The Romance of Words (4th ed.)

"The Romance of Words" by Ernest Weekley is a journey through the past lives of words, revealing how they've changed and moved across different cultures. Weekley kicks things off by showing how English is like a mix of different languages, like Latin, Old English, Norse, and especially Old French. He doesn't just list facts, he tells stories about how words got their meanings, and why some words stuck around while others faded away. It's not just about learning where words come from but about enjoying the surprising stories and twisting tales that language can tell. Weekley's writing style is designed to make word origins interesting to anyone, even if they're not a language expert. He wants to show everyone that words have exciting backgrounds and that exploring them can be a real adventure.