This book review is a two-for-one deal! These books are for anyone who loves learning about where words come from or wants to know why eagles are symbols of religious devotion. And just why do we associate dragons with hordes of treasure? Find out all this and more when you pick up The Word Nerd Dictionary of Obscure & Enchanting Words or The Deorhord: an Old English Dictionary.
Let's start with Word Nerd, it's a very good place to start. Like any Webster's or Oxford English, the Word Nerd Dictionary lists words from A to Z. Each entry gives a brief history of the word's origin and how one might use it in a sentence. Readers will have fun discovering words from different languages and time periods. Sprinkling in a few new phrases can really give a conversation some zazzle!
Moving over to The Deorhord, which reads more like a history book than a dictionary. This book by Hana Videen focuses, as all bestiaries do, on the origins of different animal words and the stories associated with them. Videen divides the animals into different groups-ordinary, extraordinary, good, bad, and baffling. The first four categories combine real animals like eagles and ants with mythical ones like the flaming phoenix. While the baffling category includes such hits as the Teeth Tyrant. Deorhord is a great read for folks who like a little more history with their lexigraphy or exploring the connection between humanity and nature through language.
Whether looking to learn new words or go for a deep dive into history, picking up one of these books is sure to entertain.