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Thereby Hangs A Tale
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Thereby Hangs A Tale Paperback - 1993

by Charles E. Funk

English has hundreds of everyday words that originated or acquired their meanings in unusual ways. Dictionaries don't have the space to tell all the mysteries but Dr. Funk, with humor and insight, tells the strange and intriguing stories of hundreds of words and how they came to be a part of the language.


From the publisher

From "mad as a wet hen" to "corn dodger" and "hobgoblin," Charles Funk's collections of curious words and expressions are a treasure trove of word origin.

In a language where hearse and rehearse have the same root and the word dunce comes from a great philosopher, English has hundreds of everyday words that originated or acquired their meanings in unusual ways. Dictionaries don't have the space to tell us all the mysteries but now Dr. Funk, with humor and insight, tells us the strange and intriguing stories of hundreds of words and how they came to be a part of our language.

From the rear cover

The Greek root of school means leisure.

A language where hearse and rehearse have the same root and the word dunce comes from a great philosopher, English has hundreds of every day words that originated or acquired their meaning in unusual ways. Dictionaries don't have the space to tell us all the mysteries, but now Dr. Funk, with humor and insight, tells us the strange and intriguing stories of hundreds of words and how they came to be a part of our language.

Details

  • Title Thereby Hangs A Tale
  • Author Charles E. Funk
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Later Printing
  • Pages 320
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Harper Paperbacks, New York
  • Date 1993-11-18
  • Features Index
  • ISBN 9780062720498 / 006272049X
  • Weight 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.01 x 5.33 x 0.78 in (20.35 x 13.54 x 1.98 cm)
  • Dewey Decimal Code 422
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Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins (Perennial Library)
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Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins (Perennial Library)

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Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins (Perennial Library)
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Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins (Perennial Library)

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Thereby Hangs a Tale
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Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins (Perennial Library)
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Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins (Perennial Library)

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Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins (Perennial Library)

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Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins (Perennial Library)
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Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins (Perennial Library)

by Charles Earle Funk

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  • Paperback
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780062720498 / 006272049X
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