500 Years of New Words500 Years of New Words takes you on an exciting journey through the English language from the days before Shakespeare to the first decade of the 21st century. All the main entries are arranged not alphabetically by in chronological order based on the earliest known year that each word was printed or written down. Beginning with "America" in 1507 and spanning the centuries to "Marsiphobiphiliac" in 2004 (a person who would love to go to Mars but is afraid of being marooned there), this book can be opened at any page and the reader will discover a dazzling array of linguistic delights. In other words, this book is unputdownable (the main entry for 1947). If Shakespeare were alive today, he would buy this book. |
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500 Years of New Words: the fascinating story of how, when, and why these ... Bill Sherk Limited preview - 2004 |
500 Years of New Words: the fascinating story of how, when, and why these ... Bill Sherk Limited preview - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
According American ancient appeared in print applied became become began British brought called carried century changed Charles coined comes death definition describe dictionary died discovered disease earliest early England English language entered the English especially Europe European example four France French German given gives goes Greek hand head Henry hundred invented island Italian Italy John King known land later Latin letter living London look meaning mention Merriam-Webster Middle million Native natural North noun origin person play popular probably produce published reached recorded reference reported Roman root ships someone sound Spanish spelling synonym tell term things thousand took turn United verb widely word writing wrote York
Popular passages
Page 14 - Strange, that the New World should have no better luck, — that broad America must wear the name of a thief. Amerigo Vespucci, the pickle-dealer at Seville, who went out, in 1499, a subaltern with Hojeda, and whose highest naval rank was boatswain's mate in an expedition that never sailed, managed in this lying world to supplant Columbus, and baptize half the earth with his own dishonest name.
Page 14 - World should have no better luck, — that broad America must wear the name of a thief. Amerigo Vespucci, the pickle-dealer at Seville, who * William Spence. went out, in 1499, a subaltern with Hojeda, and whose highest naval rank was boatswain's mate in an expedition that never sailed, managed in this lying world to supplant Columbus, and baptize half the earth with his own dishonest name.