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AWAD is, in Internet terms, an ancient mailing list: like True, it began its existence in 1994. Since then its creator, Anu Garg, has served up daily words with definitions, pronunciation guides, and examples that vary from weird to useful. Most weeks' words have a unifying theme, which is sometimes left to the readers to guess. There is also a nifty quote at the end of each email and periodic digests of the most interesting responses Anu receives. (VF) From This is True for 4 January 2009 Suggestions for further reading:
Vocabulary Energizers: Stories of Word Origins  by Christine Kenneally Amazon Price: $10.88 Customer Review: Cambridge University-educated linguist Christine Kenneally, in her intriguing historical chronicle of the evolution of human language, asks the question: "Do animals have [words]? And if they do, does that mean that words have been around longer th...  by Anatoly Liberman Amazon Price: $12.78 Customer Review: This book makes one realize that there are two kinds of etymologies: the one that tries to explain terms like "hackney" and "jack-o-lantern"; and the one that tries to explain terms like "hand" and "bring". The first makes you search through medieval... Vocabulary Energizers II: Stories of Word Origins by David Popkin Amazon Price: Customer Review: This is a wonderful book for anyone who uses the Enlgish language --(ages: 12 to 200) and a wonderful companion to Strunk & White's The Elements of Style. Vocabulary Energizers II is instructive, witty, challenging and entertaining. Its etymology ... A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi": The Origin of Foreign Words Used in English by Chloe Rhodes Amazon Price: $5.83 Customer Review: Quite simply put, this book is essential for word smiths. I received it as a gift and have enjoyed my time reading it, and exercising the little grey cells a la M. Hercule Poirot. I like the mini-history lessons for each word and recommend this boo... Newsfeed display by CaRP |
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