The latest addition to the popular series The 100 Words this book is sure to please anyone who enjoys the variety and richness of American English. From aesthetic to Zenith and chortle to lagniappe, these words have been specially chosen by the editors of the American Heritage ® Dictionaries for their unusual histories, interesting meanings, and appearance in literature.
Scores of quotations by classical and contemporary writers ranging from James Joyce and Harriet Beecher Stowe to Douglas Coupland and Donna Tartt illustrate the words in a literary context. Engaging notes explain how words enter the language and how meanings and usage develop over time. This guide is the perfect gift for people who love language and literature and all who take pride in a vibrant, active vocabulary. Paperback, 82 pages.
