Description

Category:Reference- DictionariesOther LanguageGeneral Dictionaries-Other Languages-Fol
Publisher: Oxford University Press Uk | ISBN: 9780199543694 | Pages: 0

One of the most distinctive characteristics of English is the number of words and phrases it has borrowed - and continues to borrow - from other languages, originally and most notably from Latin and French but now also from every corner of the globe. From the frequently used veranda and futon to the less familiar quinquennium and catenaccio, from the longstanding in vino veritas and vade mecum to the recent doosra and galactico, this highly informative reference book provides a revealing record of that remarkable story. With 6,000 detailed entries from aa to zut, this dictionary is the authoritative guide to foreign words and phrases used in contemporary British and American English. Drawn from over 40 languages, entries provide details of the history of each word or phrase, including language of origin, spelling variants, pronunciation, and its sense and use in English. Information is given on specific items of interest, such as the use of daemon in Philip Pullman s His Dark Materials trilogy, and full-page feature panels provide extra information on how specific languages and cultures have influenced particular areas of English. This new edition includes 100 new entries including sudoku, uber, and coitus interruptus, plus up-to-date coverage of words that have entered the English language in the 21st Century, including bruschetta, pashmina and galactico. Ideal for both reference and browsing, this is a perfect book for anyone wanting to uncover the richness of modern English.

About the Author

Perhaps the very moment when Val decided to become an artist occurred during a maths lesson at school. Val had drawn a caricature of the teacher that made his friend, George, giggle. Impressed by Vals artistry, but unappreciative of the disruption to his lesson, the teacher banged both boys heads together saying, "This young man will go far. But not, repeat, not during my lessons!" Val was born in the city of Budapest, Hungary in 1921. Living with his parents in a big flat, overlooking the Houses of Parliament with a glimpse of the river Danube beyond. Val moved to England in 1939 to study art in London.