Did you know that the English language has over 150 words for the
adjective 'drunk' developed over 1,000 years? Be prepared to learn words
you have never heard before, find out fascinating facts behind everyday
words, and be surprised at how lively and varied the English language
can be.
Published to critical acclaim in 2009, the Historical Thesaurus of the
Oxford English Dictionary is the first comprehensive thesaurus in the
world to arrange words by meaning in order of first recorded use. Using
its unique perspective on how the English language has developed, Words
in Time and Place takes 15 themes and explores the language in these
areas over time - explaining when new words appeared, where they came
from, and what such changes say about times in which they emerged. The
themes chosen are varied, universal topics and show the semantic range
of the thesaurus and what it can tell us about the words used in areas
of everyday life. Learn about the different words for dying and money,
or types of pop music, as well as words for a privy, oaths, and words
for being drunk.
Written by the world's leading expert on the English language, David
Crystal, the book carries his trademark style of engaging yet
authoritative writing. Each chapter features an introduction to the
language of that topic, followed by a timeline of vocabulary taken from
the historical thesaurus showing all the synonyms arranged in
chronological order. The timelines are annotated with additional
quotations, facts, and social and historical context to give a clear
sense of how words entered the English language, when, and in which
context they were used.
Words in Time and Place showcases the unique and excellent resource
that is the Historical Thesaurus and reveals the linguistic treasures
to be found within. This fascinating book will appeal to anyone with an
interest in words and in the development of the English language.
