The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities: A Yearbook of Forgotten Words

by Paul Anthony Jones

A whole year’s worth of linguistic curiosities, just waiting to be discovered. Open the Cabinet to leap back in time, learn about linguistic trivia, follow a curious thread or wonder at the web of connections in the English language.

Paul Anthony Jones has unearthed a wealth of strange and forgotten words: illuminating some aspect of the day, or simply telling a cracking good yarn, each reveals a story.

Genres: Nonfiction, Linguistics, Language, History, Reference, Historical, Writing

376 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2017

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The English language has a huge number of words; there are over 170,00 words in current use and over 45,000 words that are now considered obsolete. As the average person in the street has a vocabulary of around 20,000–35,000 words meaning for almost everyone there is a whole world of undiscovered words and their meanings for us to discover. One man who is aiming to unlock this Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities for us all is Paul Anthony Jones. He is the man behind Haggard Hawks, another wonderful place for everything wordy and some fiendishly difficult anagrams, and boy has he found some corkers in this book.

Some words here will make you smile, some will make you wince, but this is a cabinet full of precious treasure, an etymological gold mine. It is a labyrinth as one word leads to another and yet another word loops back past. We will learn the origins and root of words like viaticated, something that you will need to be for this journey, when you’ll need a paragrandine, just what the noise is that the word mrkgnao describes. Whilst all of this may seem mysterifical, you will start to become someone who could be called a sebastianist as you uncover this etmological Wunderkammer. You will learn how long a smoot is, when you need to scurryfunge a house, and just what a yule-hole is and at the end of all that you’ll either be a word-grubber or be in need of a potmeal

Not only is this a book for those that love all things about the English language, Paul Anthony Jones has written a book for the general reader too. Each day of the year has been given a unique word, that is either relevant for that day, or is picking up on the threads earlier in the year. There is a little history behind the word and often more in the text as I can imagine that this could have been twice the size. The first word I looked up was my birthday, as I guess that most people will do, followed by family members and other significant dates. Thankfully it is very readable and can be dipped into as and when you want to. It is great follow up to the Accidental Dictionary and I will be reading his other books, Word Drops, when I can squeeze it in.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities – For the Word Nerds

Paul Anthony Jones, the ultimate word nerd, has published a new series of obscure and old words to use over the year. The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities really does do what it says on the jacket, it is a yearbook of forgotten words. This book will take you on a journey across history to forgotten and under used words, one for every day of the year.

I am sure that anyone who receives this book will automatically look to their birthday, I know I did, and it is mountweazel. I will have to remember to use the idea of mountweazel in my reviews and other writings. For Christmas day the word is yule-hole and I will certainly have to do that after my Christmas dinner, as usual and I am sure many others will too.

What the reader will enjoy about this book, besides the nerdiness, is the ability to dip in and out of the book, without feeling guilty. It is one thing about all of Paul Anthony Jones’ previous books, is they are enjoyable, and you are able to dip in and out of those too.

This is a book for those of us who would like to be real word nerds, and I am sure when I play scrabble, some of these words will reappear.

[Emma Sea]

requested via library

[Queen Cronut · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities was such a fun and interesting read. This book blends language, culture, and history to explain the origins behind quirky, obscure words that correspond to a day (think "word of the day" calendars). Some of my new favorite words to add to my vernacular:

- mrkgnao (n.) the meow of a cat
So now when I sing "Old MacDonald Had A Farm", the cows go "moo", the pigs go "oink", and the cats go "mrkgnao" but I wonder... what does the fox say?

- theic (n.) an excessive tea drinker
A British slang term that describes my lifestyle.

- smoot (n.) a unit of length equal to five feet, seven inches
Alas, I am 5 inches too short to be a full smoot tall but..
The Great Wall of China is approximately 5,200,000 smoots long
The Eiffel Tower is about 190 smoots tall
The Empire State Building is roughly 223.9 smoots tall
The Amazon River has an approximate length of 3,782,000 smoots

- arsefoot (n.) a penguin; any squat, short-statured waterbird
I found this hilarious one and imagined a scenario in which a scientist is studying penguins when all of a sudden, a penguin bites the scientist and leads to the scientist scientifically classifying it as an "arsefoot" as revenge

What a fun way to learn new words and spice up your everyday conversations.

*Thank you to NetGalley and University of Chicago Press publishers for providing a free ARC

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jones posts obscure words to Twitter as @haggardhawks. This is a perfect gift book for etymology lovers, with one all-but-forgotten word allocated to every day of the year. I participated in the blog tour at publication last October and have kept it as a bedside book in the year since, reading just the one-page entry per day (sometimes catching up on a few at a time). I discovered some terrific words, some so strange as to beggar belief, but I found the writing a little plodding, and the links to the specific dates are often pretty arbitrary/strained. There are also some persistent niggly errors that should have been caught, like a hyphen never being there after “mid,” which appears zillions of times in front of a century or decade.

Some favorite (re)discovered words:

twarvlement: a circuitous, long-winded speech
mrkgnao: the meow of a cat, as transliterated in James Joyce’s Ulysses
misocapnist: someone who hates tobacco smoke (that’s me and my hubby, for sure!)
theic: an excessive drinker of tea (ditto!)
mamamouchi: someone who believes themselves more important than they really are, coined by Molière
nappishness: sleepiness; a tendency to nap
crapulence: a feeling of sickness caused by overeating and drinking

and, perhaps best of all, scurryfunge: to hastily tidy a house

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

With an entry for every day of the year, The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities takes the reader across centuries and continents as long forgotten terms are brought back to life.

Now here’s the thing. I never do this, but I’m actually going to review a book I haven’t actually completely read!

When I got my copy of The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities I dashed straight to my birthday where I discovered ‘crack-halter, a ‘gallows-bird’, someone liable one day to be hanged; a habitual troublemaker‘. Hmm! I then looked at my wedding anniversary to find ‘escarmouche, a brief skirmish or fit of anger‘! After that I flitted about from one significant date to another, thoroughly enjoying the brilliant discoveries I made. Then I stopped. And now I’m savouring each day as it arises in the calendar because I don’t want reading this delightful selection of entries to be over too soon.

You can read The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities on a daily basis as I am now doing, or you can turn to the Wordfinder at the back of the book and select a word that takes your fancy. Either way, the entries are hugely entertaining. As well as the linguistic interest there’s history, sociology, geography and so many wondrous things to discover. I am so impressed by the incredible devotion to research that has gone in to finding the words, and making them available to the reader through totally accessible prose and providing the background to the word’s etymology and usage.

I’m absolutely adoring this book and think it would make a fantastic gift for any reader or writer. There are three friends at least who will be receiving copies from me. In the meantime, having read some of The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities I may now have to become a word-grubber, but until then I’m off to scurryfunge the house!
https://lindasbookbag.com/2017/10/22/...

[Nostalgia Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I have not fully finished this book at the time of writing this review, as I’m trying to read only a few entries here and there to get the full effect of the book; however, I’ve read about half the entries (6 months worth of words) so I feel confident in writing an honest review at this point.

This book is a bit two-fold in it’s premise–every day of the year gets a quirky word associated with it, as well as an important historical event that happened on that date. Sometimes the word directly correlates with the event, while other times the two bits of info barely seem related.

Despite the occasional disconnect between the word and the event, I love quirky words and obscure historical events equally, so I enjoyed most of the entries! My Goodreads updates are chock full of notable words and their histories so I can reference them in the future. I know I would have enjoyed the book even more as a physical copy, but that’s just more of a personal preference when it comes to these types of books.

It would make a lovely gift book for someone who’s a word nerd or history buff!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!

(Cross posted on my blog.)

[Michelle Ryles · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first opened The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities, I thought it might feel like reading a dictionary or an encyclopedia but even though there is so much to take in, I just couldn't get enough of it. I read it as if a month was a chapter, but I also found myself flicking forward each day to see what the word of the day was and what fascinating little-known historical event I could regale my family and friends with.

It is a treasure trove of interesting words and historical information and how the author links history to the word of the day is nothing short of brilliant. It's a word of the day, a history lesson, and a fascinating fact book that would be the PERFECT gift for that person who is so difficult to buy for. I've always preferred real books to kindle, but I really do think you would benefit from a hardback edition of this book. It's a book you will always have to hand, whether you refer to it every day or bring it out when friends come round.

I can see my copy of The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities being a firm fixture in my bookcase. Actually, it will probably be as much out of the bookcase as in it, as I can't foresee a day going by when I won't open this fascinating book. In years to come I may have to rein in my bookish-OCD and see a dog-eared copy as a much loved, much handled book rather than a mistreated book. There's sure to be a word for such a well-used book so I'd better keep my eye on Haggard Hawks!

The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities is an awe-inspiring collection of trivia and fascinating facts for linguists, history lovers or anyone who loves the unusual and peculiar. Definitely one I recommend and this is one book I will not be lending to anyone as I couldn't bear not to have it close to hand.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Soleil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a linguistics major so this work is particularly interesting to me. It's not the type of book I would personally read cover-to-cover although I know fellow classmates who certainly would, but I really enjoyed flipping through it to certain sections and pages and learning more about some linguistics curiosities. I can't wait to give it a more in-depth look over with colleagues, classmates, and professors. Definitely one I would recommend to others. The excerpts were neat and unique and perfect for a slow rainy day with a cup of tea by the window. I think the best way to enjoy this book is by reading it as it advices on the first page, one story a day for a year, slowly sipping the enjoyment. Another interesting thing about this book is how much I feel like I have learned for my own writing, these little unique words are what can truly elevate and make a story.

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a. fan of trivia and word histories this is a great book to check out. Each day provides a new word and a historical event that somehow ties into that word. I enjoyed learning so many new words, as well as some obscure word connections and historical details. I read the book to match the day, but you can certainly bounce around without losing anything, in fact a few days suggest checking out other days for more related content.

I will definitely be picking up more books by this author!

[Emma Gerts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a calendar year of obscure words and interesting facts. I really enjoyed this - it's very relevant to my interests in etymology, linguistics and history. The stories are interesting and well chosen to be relevant to the word of the day and the whole book is charming and endearingly written.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

FINALLY.

I felt like I was reading this forever. Not that it wasn't good. It just... probably isn't the book to read all in one go. But then it's written, I guess, on the idea that you will read one entry per corresponding day and I was just like "No. Shan't" and here we are.

There's a lot of goodies, word wise, in this book. And normally a neat little history lesson based around the word of that particular day. There's a couple of words I hope to remember and work into my vocabulary.

A fun word nerd book.

[Nicholas von Hein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This did a really good job at doing what it set out to do. I had a lot of fun reading many of these entries, though there were a couple that hit pretty poorly based on the day they were supposed to be read. All kinds of very digestible little anecdotes from history that occasionally got bogged down by entries that largely listed variations on forgotten words.

[EuroHackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely delightful collection of words, one for each day of the year, and the stories behind those histories. I thoroughly enjoyed this and plan to seek out the other, similar books from the author that are available at my library. I found this one on display in the Languages section, and once again I give full credit to my librarians for displays that catch my eye and pique my curiosity. Gems, the lot of them (the people and the books!)!!

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading random facts. I also have a fascination with the English language. The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities is filled with forgotten words which lead to an explanation of the origin of the words themselves. There is an entry for every day of the year. I actually read this as a book which I definitely do not recommend as it gets a bit dry but reading one entry per corresponding day would be a lot of fun. I am actually reading it again that way. It would definitely be a fun and welcome present for anyone who likes random facts and learning about obscure words.

[Savannah]

This was so fun and interesting! Linguistics is a fascinating topic so I was really excited to read this book. It's set up so you have one word for every day of the year. I loved getting a little bit of historical info to go with each word and a bit of culture, as well.

[Emmalita · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a whim, I requested The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities: A Yearbook of Forgotten Words from NetGalley. I received it in exchange for an honest review. Unlike most NetGalley books, this one was released in 2017 and is available now. I’ve enjoyed it and would recommend it as a gift for language lovers. It is what it says it is, a year’s worth of forgotten words arranged by date, often the word is related to an incident that happened on that date in history. It’s fun, occasional reading.

The author, Paul Anthony Jones, is clearly a lover of words. He has written 6 books about “obscure words and language facts” and runs the twitter account @HaggardHawks. His website describes the book as:

Inspired by the daily “Word of the Day” tweets over on the @HaggardHawks Twitter feed, The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities brings together an entire year’s worth of daily obscure vocabulary—with a twist of fascinating historical context added for good measure.

I enjoy when people are sharing the thing they love, even if it isn’t something I love. I’m a reader, so obviously I have a strong affection for words. I found this book surprisingly readable. I skipped around, looking at the word on my birth date (the oddly appropriate monomachy), other friends’ birth dates, and randomly flipping through. One of my favorite entries was early in the book, January 8:

Sheep’s-eye (v.) to look amorously at someone

Although the bill’s impenetrable legalese kept its rulings fairly vague, its architect, State Assemblyman Francis G. Landon, was less ambiguous when it came to explaining who he intended it to target. As he explained to the New York Morning Telegraph, ‘My bill is aimed at the flirters, gigglers, mashers, and makers of goo-goo eyes in public. We have all been disgusted with them . . . so they must be brought to their senses.’ Anyone caught in violation of Landon’s bill faced a $500 fine, or even up to a year in prison. Remarkably, Landon’s bill was passed the following day. Even more remarkably, it has never been repealed–meaning flirting has officially been illegal in New York ever since.

This would be a good book gift for a word lover.

The word for today, June 24th, is:

choreomania (n.) a mania for dancing

Nowadays, the word choreomania tends to be used fairly loosely, referring merely to a fondness or enthusiasm for dancing. But when it first appeared in English in the mid 1800s, use of the word wasn’t quite so frivolous: originally, choreomania referred to a literal and sometimes even fatal ‘dancing madness’, an epidemic of which broke out in Aachen, Germany, on 24 June 1374.

On this date, hundreds of townspeople in Aachen and the surrounding villages began inexplicably to dance around the streets, gyrating and leaping into the air for hours–and eventually days and weeks–on end. The maniacal ‘dancers’ would not eat or sleep, but merely dance continuously until they collapsed from total exhaustion.

Precisely what caused this outbreak of choreomania–which is also known simply as chorea, or St Vitus’ dance in honour of the patron saint of dancing–is unknown.

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

This review is based on an ARC ebook received for free from NetGalley. I am not being paid to review this book and what I write here is my own opinion. My rating scale is below.

It is important to note that this book is presented as a daily calendar of forgotten words, and so it was probably never meant to be read in large doses. Even so, while this book is meant to be consumed daily, but unless the physical format is very different from the version I'm reading it probably isn't especially well-suited for it. I'm put in mind of those word-a-day bathroom calendars, which are generally cumbersome objects at the beginning of the year, but tend to get pared down as the year progresses and pages are torn away. I doubt that the physical version of this book allows for easy tearaways or is spiral bound so that it is at least easy to keep one's place.

I read this book over the course of five days and thus did not really view it in its best light, since doing so amounted to reading a somewhat peripatetic dictionary. (No, peripatetic is not a word I learned from this book.) Anyway, as a dictionary its value is only so-so. Many of the entries are pretty extreme digressions from discussion of the words themselves, although sometimes they are tangentially related, and it could use regular pronunciation keys. What fun is using new words if you don't also learn how to say them? That is how you end up describing something as the "epee-tome of aw-ree" and feeling really stupid when someone says "Do you mean 'epitome of awry'?"

Even lacking pronunciation guides, Jones has selected good words, especially if one is writing a period piece and wishes to have characters demonstrating a particular pattern of speech. Furthermore, there are often "bonus" words in the entry text beyond the definition. Helpfully, there is an alphabetical "wordfinder" at the very end of the text, though this does not include definitions, only the pages on which the words may be found, and only the words which were the main entries. In other words, it does not encompass the "bonus" words many entries include, which is fine if you remember to which word the bonus words were tangentially related, but if not...good luck!

This isn't likely to be a book that is kept and treasured after the first reading, and that's fine. Novelty books make great gifts. And this is the sort of book that works well in a basket by the loo or in a library or as a gift to an English major, who will probably eventually put it in a basket by the loo or donate it to a library or re-gift it to some other English major.

rating scale
1 star - I was barely able to finish it. I didn't like it.
2 stars - It was okay. I didn't dislike it.
3 stars - It was interesting. I liked it.
4 stars - It was excellent. I really liked it.
5 stars - It was extraordinary. I really hope the author wrote more things

[J Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities: A Yearbook of Forgotten Words from Paul Anthony Jones is a word-lover's delight. It can be read in one of several ways and think it would work any of them.

This is set up to give an obscure word and an etymological story every day for a year (a leap year at that). While that would certainly be a great way to utilize the book, I chose a different way. If I were going to do one entry a day I would consider reading the one page in the morning upon waking, I think it would energize your mind and get you thinking for the day. In my case, if I read it at night as I imagine is common, I can imagine it keeping me awake because I would be thinking about it.

Another way to read it is simply as a book with 366 very short chapters. Since each "chapter" is independent from the others I would think, if you're actively reading and engaging with it, you'll read only a few dozen a day so you can ponder the words and stories. This isn't a book that should be speed read unless one just wants to say "I read it in a day." But since pretty much any book can be read in a day, what is the point?

The way I chose was to read it as I would a collection of essays or short stories. I usually have a couple novels and a couple single topic nonfiction books I read at a time. To fill in the times when I just have a few minutes and don't want to get back into one of those longer reads, I keep a book of essays and/or short stories at hand. This provides short self-contained items for me to read when I don't have time to get back into a longer work. At only one page per entry, this is ideal for that kind of use. Especially since each one tended to make me think about the word and/or the story and when I went back to whatever I was doing I had something to think about.

I highly recommend this to anyone who genuinely likes words and their origins and not just for the sake of saying "I love words." There isn't really anything to dislike here and a lot to pique one's curiosity.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[J. d'Merricksson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linguistics is fascinating, even if it's not my area of expertise in anthropology. As a writer and poet, I love language and playing with words! Learning words lost to time is fun, and Jones' A Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities didn't disappoint. There's a word for each day of the year, with a bit about how it entered the language, and a little trivia story that applies to said word. I learned so many new words, now squirreled away for later use in my own writing. I loved learning the bits of history too. So many things I didn't know. Sometimes it can be quite humbling to think about the weight of time and history, of all that's come before, and faded into obscurity. To think, some day linguists, and other curious folk will be looking back on our time, pondering words lost, or mutated, conjuring images of an era long lost with snapshots of history.

Among the words I learned were esculate, esculation, and luscition, all of which refer to closing or blinding an eye, or being purblind. I'm missing an eye, so these were all very relevant. The story accompanying esculate is an apocryphal legend about the famous Admiral Nelson putting a telescope to his blind eye and saying he didn't see the signal to retreat.

Then there was arsefeet, a colloquial term used to describe a penguin. Agerasia refers to looking younger than actual age. That trivia bite discussed the first use of the abbreviation OMG. It was 1917. Wow!This book is perfect for word lovers, and those who enjoy trivia! Well worth the read.

***Many thanks to the Netgalley & University of Chicago Press for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities is a collection of obsolete etymological weirdness, linguistic dead ends, and other fascinating features of the English language. Due out 14th Oct 2019 from the University of Chicago press, it's 384 pages and will be available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats.

I'm a self avowed word nerd. I love language and the way it has shaped (and been shaped by) human culture and interaction. This book was a gold mine of interesting tidbits of which I was previously unaware. The format of the book is simple. It's set up in a 'word a day' calendar format with a word and some of its etymology related in a conversational and informal short essay of roughly 1-2 pages. I was truly impressed with how few of these words were previously known to me. There are worthy words here and a fair bit of related linguistic history.

The book also includes an alphabetical word list of the included words and a short bibliography (several of which are now on my to-be-read pile).

I enjoyed the book, loved the format, and think this would make a really superlative holiday gift for anyone with an appreciation for linguistics as well as a cracking addition to the home (or public) library.

Five stars, a truly fun book.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Phillip Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though new words get added to dictionaries frequently, there are words that have slipped out of common usage. These words are still quite applicable, and you can find times to use them. In The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities, Paul Anthony Jones brings some of these words back into the public eye.

I like learning new words, and there are 366 words in this book to learn about. However, each entry holds more than just the definition of the word. Where possible, the known history is given. I find this helpful, especially if the words comes from another language.

An event in history that matches with the word closes out the entry. These bits of trivia make the book even better to me, as they cover a wide variety of subjects. Plus, if you’re looking to slip the word into a conversation, these events can be a good way to explain the word, or just act as a jumping off point.

One thing that I would have liked to have seen is a pronunciation guide, especially on the odder words. If I’m going to learn new words, I would really like to pronounce them as accurately as possible. The book is still fun without the pronunciations, I just think that would make it better.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a stunningly beautiful cover and you'll find a real treasure trove of delights inside. As someone who is fascinated by words and where they come from, this was the perfect book for me to dip in and out of.

The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities has a word per page for each day of the year. As well as defining the word, the author has an anecdote or further explanation to go with each. There has obviously been a huge amount of research carried out in order to make this such a readable and fascinating book.

Words that really caught my fancy were letterling (a short letter or note - 3rd August), lickpenny (a costly enterprise - 30th March), love-light (a romantic glimmer in a person's eyes - used, if I recall correctly, in Eric Clapton's 'Wonderful Tonight' and the word for 12th October) and brolly-hop (a parachute jump - 22nd October). It really amuses me that the quite long word breviloquent (4th March) means pithy or succint, characterised by brevity of speech. There really is a huge collection of fascinating, entertaining and enlightening words in this book, just waiting to be discovered.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! This is a book you may want to read in the company of others; I know that often I found myself reading a passage aloud to whoever was in the same room. There are passages that are amusing, some more serious but all are informative and entertaining. This is a great book for those who enjoy trivia, little known odd facts, words and their history as well as people who like just like knowing something other people don't.

I read this on my Kindle and I noticed that while each passage was separated by a couple of empty lines and there was a picture of a key, the date was not listed at the beginning of each entry. It was often buried in the passage but I didn't always know which day I was reading about until I came upon in the passage itself. I was reading the book from the first page through to the end. This would have been a bigger issue had I wanted to look up and read a particular day. I don't know if this is something I would have encountered had I been reading a print copy.

[Nicole Normand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book discounted on Amazon via Bookbub
This was such a nice escapade! I read it through a full year and it was fun. Every day is a date so you can start at any time during the year. These are most of my notes throughout:
Jan30 Most confusing, too many descriptions. Mar09 Wow, never thought about seeing a diminutive of myself in someone's eyes. Mar26 What if that's where our alternate reality is? Apr01 Good one. Apr20 Interesting facts about Poe. May10 Cool facts about Fred Astaire. May17 Wow. A two-year investigation about the song "Louie Louie" by Richard Berry. May20 Quartorzain. I like the sonnet's form (abab-cdcd-efef-gg), but no example. Jun06 Very interesting. Jun12 Too much of Anne Frank, why not something else? Jun14 Ridiculous teacher. Jun25 Decapulate. TIL. I do this all the time. Jun27 I didn't realize George II was the last British monarch to lead his troops into battle. Jul22 Handfast. Handfastness = Tight-Fistedness. Made me think of a certain couple. Jul23 Abjudicate. Story of what Mussolini did with foreign words. Aug08 A cloor is a cat scratch. Aug31 The difference between collision and allision. Sep05 Pogonophobia: a hatred or dislike of beards. Pogonate: you are bearded. Sep09 There's actually a word for looking younger than your age. Sep10 There's also a word for the not-so ingenious ideas you get when you're drunk! Sep19 Shocking news about Liechtenstein and women's vote. Sep24 Finger Post, such a true definition! Oct16 Who knew some of these words were specifically Americanisms (skunk, applesauce, ...)? Dec03 TIL. Geoplanarian is the correct word for earth flatters. Also learned they base their idea on a quote by George Bernard. Astounding!

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As you might suspect from the subtitle, this book contains 365 rare words that you might still find in the English dictionary. From the weirdly specific to the outdated, no word is left unscrutinized.

I really like learning rare words, and I appreciated the etymology that is often included with these words. The author made an interesting choice to try to match each rare word with an event in history, and while some of these were wonderfully wacky, others had me scratching my head. A few of the events are so well known that I didn't know why we were bringing them up, and a few were just plain morbid. Admittedly, this fits with the theme of a cabinet of curiosities. However, I personally would have enjoyed this book more if it had focused on the words rather than persuading me to read yet another birthday of a famous author or the anniversary of some foolish death.

[Grant Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fun trip through some of the more obscure and less known words in the English language. It’s configured as a word-of-the-day book, where each day you’re introduced to a new word and its definition. Then, you’ll get a one or two page story from history illustrating the word in action. It’s educational and entertaining.

It is because of this book that I discovered that I am a polly-in-the-cottage (man who helps with housework), that suffers from the occasional bout of pot-valour (courage or boldness induced by drinking), who had a two yule-hole (the hole you must move your belt buckle to after eating Christmas lunch) adjustment this year, is fully expecting to wallow in my own crapulence (a feeling of sickness caused by overeating and drinking) on January 1st, and who wouldn’t mind finding himself a nice muckytrollops (untidy woman) to spend some quality time with.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fun, year-long book of word and history trivia. Each day of the year has an entry, and every entry contains an unusual word along with an event that happened on that day in history which illustrates the word's meaning. So for each day of the year, there's a word and it's meaning and some history of that word--like it's first known use and how the meaning has changed with time. Often the author also included some other words with the same root. Then there's a summary of what happened during the tied-in historical event for that day. The historical events and words come from the Middle Ages up to modern times. The words are no longer in use, though similar words may be still in use.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love words. Especially old, odd, seldom used ones. I've even manage to help revive a few from obscurity among family and friends. I even have a journal I've been collecting them in for years! This book is an absolute delight for us philologoes! It's a wonderful browsing sort of book, though many of us will sit and read it cover to cover in no time at all and then return again and again to linger over new found favorites. Nutty, isn't it? I'll be trying some of these ones in the future. They are never too archaic to try and revive.

I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Jifu · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Note: I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley)

This is absolutely one of my favorite kind of nonfiction reads. The format and subject matter allows its readers a variety of preferences in where they could actually read one entry a day, go through the whole thing like an ordinary book, or even just pick it up and open it at random. No matter which way they decide to tackle this book and whether they decide to read about the etymology about one obscure word or several dozen pages in one go, they're guaranteed to an enjoyable and educational experience every single time without fail.