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The Devil's Dictionary (1906) is a work of satire by Ambrose Bierce. Although he is commonly remembered for his chilling short stories on the experiences of Civil War soldiers, Bierce was recognized in his day as a leading journalist and humorist who spent decades ruffling feathers and drawing laughter with his witty opinion columns, poems, and definitions. Toward the end of his career, he decided to compile these satirical definitions into a book,...
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English
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If it's time for a rhyme, or you need a satiric lyric, the Collins Rhyming Dictionary is the fastest and easiest way to refine your line. The most accessible way to find the rhyme you need. Other rhyming dictionaries are characterised by the use of obscure words for padding, subsections for disyllabic and trisyllabic rhymes, and reverse phonetic order – but we avoid such complications and, as a result, have the most practical rhyming book available....
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English
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Written virtually single-handedly over a seven-year period by a revered dean of English letters, Johnson's Dictionary first appeared in 1755. A remarkable monument to the vigor and variety of our language and to the genius of its author, it served as the standard dictionary for more than 150 years and formed the basis for all subsequent English dictionaries. This modern version reduces the original 2,300 pages of definitions and literary examples...
Author
Pub. Date
2010.
Language
English
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Description
In day-to-day speech we use words and phrases without a passing thought as to why we use them or where they come from. Max Cryer changes all that by showing how fascinating the English language really is. Did you know that the former host of Today, Jane Pauley, claims to have coined the term "bad hair day," or that a CBS engineer named Charley Douglass invented the name and use of "canned laughter" for television, or that "cold turkey" as a...
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Language
English
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Description
"If you have trouble distinguishing the verbs imitate and emulate, the relative pronouns that and which, or the adjectives pliant, pliable, and supple, never fear--How to Tell Fate from Destiny is here to help! With more than 500 headwords, the book is replete with advice on how to differentiate commonly confused words and steer clear of verbal trouble"--
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Language
English
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"The ideal tour guide . . . both entertaining and informative."-Booklist Here is the riveting story of the English language, from its humble beginnings as a regional dialect to its current preeminence as the one global language, spoken by more than two billion people worldwide. In this groundbreaking book, Melvyn Bragg shows how English conquered the world. It is a magnificent adventure, full of jealousy, intrigue, and war-against a hoard of invaders,...
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Language
English
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Description
This extensive reference volume presents the etymological history of thousands of English words.
The story of how words come to be is the story of how humans think, and how we fashion our civilizations. Words can be the product of long and intertwining histories, migrations from other languages, or new coinages of science or slang. This diversity of origins is part of what gives the English language its beauty and power.
In Dictionary of Word Origins,...
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Language
English
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Description
The Ultimate Guide to Powerful Language If you've ever fumbled while trying to use a big word to impress a crowd, you know what it's like to be poorly spoken. The fear of mispronouncing or misusing complex words is real and leaves many of us consigned to the lower levels of the English Language. The secret to eloquence, however, lies in simplicity-the ability to use ordinary words in extraordinary ways. The Well-Spoken Thesaurus is your guide to eloquence,...
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Language
English
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"The slang dictionary : Etymological, historical and anecdotal" by John Camden Hotten. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers...
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English
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"Samara O'Shea is the guardian angel of this almost lost art." - Samantha Ettus, Creator of The Experts' Guide book series
"Samara O'Shea has outdone herself with her own passionate love letter to the written word." - Rachel Kramer Bussel, Village Voice Lusty Lady columnist
"A charming look at the lost art of letter writing." - Jane Buckingham, author of The Modern Girl's Guide to Life and The Modern Girl's Guide to Motherhood
"For the Love of...
12) Conjunctions
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: LG - BL: 4.6 - AR Pts: 1
Lexile measure
760L
Language
English
Formats
Description
The ability to recognize and correctly use the different parts of speech is key to demonstrating command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. In this book, readers will learn about the role conjunctions play in sentences by following the story of Nancy, a girl who brings her family to see her work on display at an art show. The story and activity sidebars help introduce concepts such as correct punctuation...
13) Pronouns
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: LG - BL: 4.3 - AR Pts: 1
Lexile measure
670L
Language
English
Formats
Description
The ability to recognize and correctly use the different parts of speech is key to demonstrating command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. In this book, readers will learn about the function pronouns have in sentences by following the story of Sam and his visiting cousins, Jim and Anna. The story and supplemental activity sidebars help teach concepts such as tense, correct punctuation, relative pronouns,...
14) Nouns
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: LG - BL: 3.4 - AR Pts: 1
Lexile measure
610L
Language
English
Formats
Description
The ability to recognize and correctly use the different parts of speech is key to demonstrating command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. In this book, readers will learn about the function nouns have in sentences by following the story of Steve and Judy, who join their father on a trip to the grocery store. The story and activity sidebars help introduce concepts such as abstract nouns, subject-verb...
15) Interjections
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: LG - BL: 3.9 - AR Pts: 1
Lexile measure
750L
Language
English
Formats
Description
The ability to recognize and correctly use the different parts of speech is key to demonstrating command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. In this book, readers will learn about the function interjections have in sentences by following the story of Will and Lauren, who visit a museum to see dinosaur skeletons. The story and activity sidebars help teach concepts such as correct punctuation, capitalization,...
Author
Language
English
Formats
Description
From Geronimo! to gesundheit to haminahamina to holy mackerel, and from abracadabra to zoinks, Mark Dunn and Sergio Aragonés show you interjections like you've never seen them before.
Often thought of as unnecessary verbal fringe or simply linguistic decoration, interjections (ahem, howdy, mamma mia, pshaw, tally-ho, whoop-de-do) may well be the most overlooked part of speech in the English language. ZOUNDS! A Browser's Dictionary of Interjections...
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Language
English
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Description
This book consists of more than 1,000 animal expressions in everyday language and where they came from. Do you have "an eagle eye" for a bargain? Have you ever been "hounded" by a "loan shark" or hustled by a "pool shark?" Here you can get the lowdown on the fox trot, puppy love, monkeyshines, cowlicks, Cub Scouts, bulls and bears, jaywalkers, gift horses, white elephants, and jailbirds. You may never let "sleeping dogs lie" again.
Author
Language
English
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Description
"Ever wondered what the Mandarin word for platypus translates to? Probably not, but it's "duck mouth beast." And there's more where that came from, thanks to Adam Sharp's Euphemisms That Get on My You-Know-Whats, a collection of fascinating, hilarious, and brilliantly odd lists. This book covers just about everything you never knew you didn't know, from the noises that animals make around the world to titles of movies that sound dirty but aren't-and...
Author
Language
English
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Description
Do you dread writing notes to say "Thank you," "I'm sorry," or "Congratulations"?
When's the last time you sent a handwritten letter to a faraway friend, just to catch up?
What should you write to a grieving friend or colleague? How do you let friends know you're getting a divorce?
As our lives get busier and faster-paced, the old-fashioned art of personal correspondence is becoming sadly lost. In this upbeat, wise, and witty guide, journalist and...
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