Dictionary of Word Origins

by Joseph T. Shipley

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Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Language, Writing, History, Literature

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1945

About the author

Joseph Twadell Shipley (August 19, 1893 – May 11, 1988) was an American drama critic, author, editor and associate professor of English at Yeshiva College in New York City.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Dan]

Acquired Apr 1, 1996
The Word, Montreal, Quebec

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

For what it covers, it is good, so I am giving it 4 stars. It is interesting to read. I expected there would be more etymologies - that it would cover more words. I think it could have been formatted better to make each entry easier to read. When related words are in an entry, I would have preferred them in bold print rather than italic, since italic was already being used for etymological information.

[Laura Steinert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this handy reference for years. I pull it out when needed, our sometimes I just pick it up to see what is there.

[John Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't sell yourself short by skipping this book just because Wiktionary exists.

[Doug Page]

abracadabra.
Its letters add (in sequence) to 52, (in numerology) to 365.

This word of Medieval magic is traced to a mythical Persian sun god, summoned to the magician's aid.

[david · Rating 1 out of 5]

bad

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

dj;