Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology

"[A] combination of readability with scholarship. . . of exceptional quality." —American Library Association (Reference Books Bulletin)

As all lovers of language know, words are the source of our very understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Often, however, our use of language is so automatic that we neglect to consider where those words came from and what they assume. What are the implications, beyond the simple dictionary definitions, of using words such as privilege, hysteria, s...