Weird and Wonderful Words by Erin McKean


Weird and Wonderful Words
Title : Weird and Wonderful Words
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0195159055
ISBN-10 : 9780195159059
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 144
Publication : Published October 24, 2002

Weird and Wonderful Words is a pot-pourri, a gallimaufry, a salmagundi, a treasure trove of colourful, quirky, and unusual words. Containing hundreds of definitions written in a clear and conversational style and full-page illustrations which offer a whimsical and hilarious view of our glorious language. Amuse yourself and entertain your friends with your knowledge of who a snollygoster or a Funambulist may be, what a humdudgeon or a nubbingcheat was, or why you might want to engage in catopromancy. Appendices include a bibliography of Oxford's dictionaries and a guide to creating your own unusual words correctly from Greek and Latin roots. The perfect stocking filler and gift book,

Weird and Wonderful Words Reviews

  • Chriss

    It's not so great. The words and their definitions are mostly uninteresting. The layout isn't that great, either. For instance, you'll be looking at the words for a letter and suddenly they're interrupted by two pages of the author talking about something vaguely related. Why not put these AFTER the chapters for the letters? The illustrations aren't that great, either.

    Overall, a 'meah' book. There are much better.

  • Wilbur

    Enjoyable book. I wish there had been pronunciation guides with each word. I didn't care for the section on making up your own words, until I started making up some of my own. Turns out it's a lot of fun. I'll be doing more.

  • Judith

    Roz Chast illustrates...check. Erin McKean, word goddess, edits...check. I was in heaven...
    why was the book so short? Some golden nuggets: camorra, shamal, pyknic, bysen,
    grumphie, and deasil. Look them up :)

  • Laura-nassidesa Eschbaugh

    A DELIGHTFUL COLLECTION OF WORDS, far too many are absolete and I will have to incorporate them into my vocabulary

  • Jane

    Roz Chast's illustrations were the best part. Oh, and the word "oxters". I never knew that was such a peculiar word.

  • Krysta Halye

    This is obviously not a book to be read in one sitting but it is a good reference of odd words and enjoyable for anyone interested in writing or speaking or just reading

  • Anthony Faber

    A colection of odd words. Some are amusing.

  • Tina

    I love words.
    I love etymology.
    This is fun.
    It’s full of words!
    Funny, unusual, weird words and interesting information about them.