Eric Partridge

Gives the origins of some 20,000 items from modern English vocabulary, discussing them in groups that make clear the connections between words derived by a variety of routes from originally common stock. It is a fascinating book to browse through, since every page points out links with other entries. It is easy to pursue such trails as the longer articles are written as continuous prose clearly divided up into numbered paragraphs and subheadings, and there is a careful system of cross-references. In addition to the main A-Z listing, there are extensive lists of prefixes, suffixes, and elements used in the creation of new vocabulary. Partridge was the author of some three dozen books, mainly on aspects of the English language. Of them all he regarded Origins as his greatest achievement.--From publisher description.

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