The Word Detective®
   Evan Morris®
  2000 Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, NC
    ISBN: 1565122399


A collection of lively & unusual questions & answers about the lore & laws of language. From students in word disputes with professors to relatives feuding over esoteric phrases.

This language sleuth is a second-generation etymologist whose popular newspaper column has kept readers in stitches for decades & has collected numerous awards.

From everyday eponyms to a Drinkers' Dictionary; from ludicrous euphemisms to animal metaphors; from bizarre figures of speech to onomatopoeic orations, this writer's humorous & twisted trains of thought not only show how a phrase was originally used & what a word meant, it will show you how much fun our language really is.

Ever wondered how the word hello happened? Or nerd? Or gormless?

What about taking the words right out of my mouth & other culinary quips?What's a dogsbody? Was someone simply misspelling when they wrote sundae?

A wordsmith after my own heart, Evan Morris®, applies his free-roaming brain cells to not only come up with plausible answers to many questions about our strange language, he makes the discovery funny! An excellent gift idea -- especially for your throne room!

Reminded me of Bennett Cerf in his heyday!

Evan Morris' Web site is: www.word-detective.com
(06/03/01)

Rebecca