Dubious doublets : a delightful compendium of unlikely word pairs of common origin : from aardvark/porcelain to zodiac/whiskey / Stewart Edelstein.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Edelstein, Stewart, 1948-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

English language--Etymology.

English language.

Indo-European languages--Influence on English.

Indo-European languages.

English language--Cognate words.

English language--Roots.

Physical Description:

xiv, 206 pages ; 18 cm

Place of Publication:

Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley, [2003]

Summary:

Quick, what is the common denominator of the following words: onion, twinkle, travel, squad, foist, semester, October, noon, and dicker? By the time you finish reading Dobious Doublets, the answer will be as obvious to you as the relationship between lettuce and galaxy, nostril and thrill, or witch and vegetable! This surprising, enlightening, and entertaining guide uses a delightfully innovative approach to explore the evolution, lineage, and proliferation of words. Beginning with pairs of seemingly unrelated modern English words -- dubious doublets -- the author traces them back through the millennia to reveal not only their common roots, but also the living thoughts that form the true links between these improbable pairs. You'll discover, for example, why the words flamenco and flamingo are both related to the complexions of the Dutch, how the biblical son of Isaac is related to a French garment and a Halloween decoration, and what going berserk has to do with playing hopscotch. You'll also uncover the common roots of such seemingly incompatible dyads as bully/friar, muscle/mouse, and everyone's favorite, feather/hippopotamus. Richly supplemented with cultural anecdotes, literary excerpts, and lively discussions on a broad variety of relevant topics -- not to mention a series of whimsical illustrations that offer intriguing clues to word origins -- Dubious Doublets is, quite simply, a word buff's delight.

Contents:

Aardvark / porcelain 9

Admonish / money 10

Adultery / altruism 11

Album / auburn 12

Alcohol / artichoke 14

Alibi / alien 16

Amnesty / mnemonic 17

Ankle / English 19

Asterisk / disaster 20

Attorney / fournament 22

August / inaugurate 24

Bagel / buxom 26

Balloon / ballot 27

Bankrupt / banquet 27

Belly / budget 29

Berserk / hopscotch 29

Bid / Buddha 31

Brassiere / pretzel 31

Broker / breakfast 33

Buck / butcher 35

Bully / friar 37

Cadaver / cadence 38

Calendar / exclaim 39

Camera / comrade 39

Canary / cynic 40

Candelabra / candidate 43

Car / caricature 43

Carnival / carnivore 45

Carrot / hornet 46

Cavalier / chivalrous 47

Chaise Lounge / Longitude 48

Chameleon / Human 52

Champion / Champagne 53

Clavicle / Clef 54

Consider / Desire 55

Court / Horticulture 56

Crisscross / Cretin 57

Damask / Damson 59

Dean / December 61

Dentist / Dandelion 62

Dextrose / Ambidextrous 64

Dollar / Neanderthal 66

Dubious / Doublets 68

Endorse / Do-si-do 70

Enthusiasm / Theology 72

Feather / Hippopotamus 72

Flamingo / Flamenco 74

Flavor / Inflate 77

Forest / Forfeit 78

Franc / Frankly 79

Gazebo / Placebo 81

Gorge / Gargantuan 82

Hack / Hackneyed 83

Hashish / Assassin 85

Hen / Enchant 86

Hieroglyphics / Clever 87

Hill / Excellent 88

Hostile / Hotel 89

Iceberg / Burglar 91

Incredulous / Courage 92

Inoculate / Binoculars 94

Jacket / Jack-o'-lantern 95

Journal / Journey 99

Jumbo / Mumbo Jumbo 100

King / Pregnant 102

Lady / Dough 103

Lettuce / Galaxy 105

Lunatic / Lynx 106

Maniac / Automatic 109

Menu / Minute 111

Mug / Mugging 113

Muscle / Mouse 114

Noon / Nine 116

Nostril / Thrill 116

OK / Kindergarten 117

Oxygen / Vinegar 121

Palindrome / Dromedary 125

Palm / Polka Dot 128

Panacea / Pandemonium 129

Parallel / Paramecium 130

Patter / Paternity 133

Pavilion / Fold 136

Pedigree / Crane 137

Poem / Onomatopoeia 138

Portmanteau / Mantle 141

Precocious / Apricot 145

Quarry / squadron 147

Quintessence / First 149

Re / Rebus 151

Remorse / Morsel 155

Sabotage / Boot 156

Salacious / Salmon 158

Salary / Sausage 160

Sanguine / Sanguinary 160

Satisfy / Sad 162

Science / Nice 163

Senator / Senile 164

Sherbet / Syrup 164

Sherry / Jersey 165

Smile / Mirror 166

Sorcerer / Series 169

Stun / Thursday 170

Tractor / Contract 173

Tradition / Date 175

Trivia / Triangle 176

Tryst / Betrothal 177

Turban / Tulip 178

Uncouth / enormous 180

Universe / Inch 182

Up / Supine 182

Verdict / Warlock 185

Vicar / Wicker 186

War / Liverwurst 187

Window / Nirvana 188

Witch / Vegetable 188

Xmas / X ray 190

Yoga / Conjugal 191

Zero / Decipher 192

Zodiac / Whiskey 195.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0471227641

OCLC:

51242180