From the Publisher
From the creator of the popular A.Word.A.Day e-mail newsletter
A collection of some of the most interesting stories and
fascinating origins behind more than 300 words, names, and terms by
the founder of WordSmith.org.
Did you know:
Thereas a word for the pleasant smell that accompanies the first
rain after a dry spell? "Petrichor," combining "petros" (Greek for
"stone") and "ichor" (the fluid that flows in the veins of Greek
gods).
An "illeist" is one who refers to oneself in the third person.
Thereas a word for feigning lack of interest in something while
actually desiring it: "accismus,"
For any aspiring "deipnosophist" (a good conversationalist at
meals) or devoted "Philomath" (a lover of learning), this anthology
of entertaining etymology is an ideal way to have fun while getting
smarter.