The Secret Lives Of Words
by West, Paul
We are often unaware of the unique and intriguing stories of the words we love. Thousands of our words have been so twisted, tangled, misused, and muddled over the centuries that their original meaning has been obscured. You'll be surprised to learn that table napkins were once made of and referred to as asbestos, that atom means uncuttable, that a cloud was once a hill, and that a companion is one who eats bread with you. Compiled over the years in his handwritten notebooks, acclaimed prose stylist Paul West offers us an album of treasures. The Secret Lives of Words is an "Antiques Road Show" of language, in which West chronicles the centuries-long travels of words across continents and through cultures. For word enthusiasts, speakers, writers, thinkers, and all readers, this volume recounting the intimate ancestry of language will enrich our understanding of and appreciation for the words we use every day.
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Secret Lives of Words
by West, Paul
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- 2001
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The Secret Lives of Words
by Paul West
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Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.: Harcourt, 2000. First Edition. Hb. Very Good/Very Good. 8vo. pp. 296, ""As fun a word book as has hit the market since Eric Partridge's Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, The Secret Lives of Words is selective instead of comprehensive, and therein lies some of its charm. It's informal. It's a taste. It's purely for… Read more about this item Item Price
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The Secret Lives of Words
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Harcourt, 2000. Fine. West, Paul. The Secret Lives of Words. New York City: Harcourt, 2000. 294pp. 8vo. Hardcover. Book condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near fine with light bumping to corners. Item Price
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The Secret Lives of Words
by Paul West
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New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2000. First edition thus. . Trade Paper. Very Good/Very Good. Book is clean. Pages have no markings.
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Secret Lives of Words
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The Secret Lives of Words
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