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Product Description
My four year-old daughter has discovered the meaning of piggyback. Can you explain its origins?
When is it appropriate to use ie. and eg.?
If I'm "in like Flynn" am I being compared to the actor?
Everyone in my office has started saying "yada-yada-yada." I know this pre-dates Seinfeld. Where does it come from?
In Jesse's Word of the Day, language expert Jesse Sheidlower offers witty and informative answers to the most interesting real-life language questions posed by visitors to the popular Web site he originated with Random House. His tradition is now being continued at The Mavens' Word of the Day (www.mavensword.com).
What are the origins of phrases like bated breath and skin of the teeth? What's the proper way to use confusable words like lie and lay? Are there answers to popular puzzlers about the longest word in the English language or the number of words ending in -gry? Jesse's responses to these are both authoritative and fun to read for language mavens of all levels. A fun and practical resource, Jesse's Word of the Day answers the language questions you've always pondered, and some you haven't even thought to ask!
Amazon.com Review
So what is that mysterious third word that ends "gry"? How did pig Latin get its name? What's the difference between i.e. and e.g.? Ask Jesse Sheidlower, senior editor for Random House Reference, whose Web site Jesse's Word of the Day has just made the transition to old-fashioned perfect-bound paper. The book compiles a few hundred of the most entertaining questions and answers from the site; Sheidlower's sense of humor shines as he explains word history and usage with breezy, snappy prose that would never make it into a dictionary. Whether used as a handy guide to some common English-language problems or simply browsed for pleasure, Jesse's Word of the Day will entertain, amuse, and educate anyone interested in the sometimes bizarre words we use every day. --Rob Lightner
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