Skip to content

Secret Life of Words
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Secret Life of Words Hardcover - 2008

by Henry Hitchings; Hitchings


From the publisher

Words are essential to our everyday lives. An average person spends his or her day enveloped in conversations, e-mails, phone calls, text messages, directions, headlines, and more. But how often do we stop to think about the origins of the words we use? Have you ever thought about which words in English have been borrowed from Arabic, Dutch, or Portuguese? Try "admiral," "landscape, "and "marmalade, "just for starters.

"The Secret Life of Words "is a wide-ranging account not only of the history of English language and vocabulary, but also of how words witness history, reflect social change, and remind us of our past. Henry Hitchings delves into the insatiable, ever-changing English language and reveals how and why it has absorbed words from more than 350 other languages many originating from the most unlikely of places, such as "shampoo "from Hindi and "kiosk "from Turkish. From the Norman Conquest to the present day, Hitchings narrates the story of English as a living archive of our human experience. He uncovers the secrets behind everyday words and explores the surprising origins of our most commonplace expressions. "The Secret Life of Words "is a rich, lively celebration of the language and vocabulary that we too often take for granted."

Details

  • Title Secret Life of Words
  • Author Henry Hitchings; Hitchings
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 448
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York
  • Date 2008
  • ISBN 9780374254100 / 0374254109
  • Weight 1.52 lbs (0.69 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.24 x 6.58 x 1.36 in (23.47 x 16.71 x 3.45 cm)
  • Library of Congress subjects English language - Etymology, English language - Lexicography - History
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2008026055
  • Dewey Decimal Code 422

About the author

Henry Hitchings was born in 1974. Educated at the universities of Oxford and London, he is the author of "Defining the World "and has contributed to many newspapers and magazines.

Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English

by Henry Hitchings

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780374254100 / 0374254109
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Champaign, Illinois, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$3.99
$3.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008-09-15. hardcover. Good. 6x0x9. Ships quickly. Mild to moderate shelf/reading wear. WEAR TO EDGES OF DUST JACKET. SCATTERED YELLOW HIGHLIGHTS. Orphans Treasure Box sells books to raise money for orphans and vulnerable kids.
Item Price
$3.99
$3.99 shipping to USA
The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English

by Henry Hitchings

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780374254100 / 0374254109
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Youngtown, Arizona, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$6.00
$5.25 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, January 2008. Hardcover. Used - Good/Good.
Item Price
$6.00
$5.25 shipping to USA
The Secret Life of Words : How English Became English
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Secret Life of Words : How English Became English

by Hitchings, Henry

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780374254100 / 0374254109
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.91
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
$7.91
FREE shipping to USA
The Secret Life of Words : How English Became English
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Secret Life of Words : How English Became English

by Hitchings, Henry

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780374254100 / 0374254109
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Reno, Nevada, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.91
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
$7.91
FREE shipping to USA
The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English.
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English.

by Hitchings, Henry.

  • Used
  • very good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Very good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780374254100 / 0374254109
Quantity Available
1
Seller
St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.98
$3.50 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008. Hardcover. Very good. Hardcover in dust jacket, minor wear, pages bright and binding tight, a very nice copy!
Item Price
$7.98
$3.50 shipping to USA
The Secret Life of Words : How English Became English

The Secret Life of Words : How English Became English

by Henry Hitchings

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780374254100 / 0374254109
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$8.22
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2008. Hardcover. Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$8.22
FREE shipping to USA
The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English

by Henry Hitchings

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used: Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780374254100 / 0374254109
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$8.23
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008-09-16. Hardcover. Used: Good.
Item Price
$8.23
FREE shipping to USA
The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English

by Hitchings, Henry

  • Used
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Very Good+ in Very Good dust jacket
Edition
First Edition; First Printing
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780374254100 / 0374254109
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Magalia, California, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$8.95
$5.50 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Very Good+ in Very Good dust jacket. 2008. First Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. 0374254109 . Book and DJ have light edgewear, DJ has 2 small light scratches to rear ; 440 pages .
Item Price
$8.95
$5.50 shipping to USA
The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English

by Hitchings, Henry

  • Used
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - VG
Edition
1st
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780374254100 / 0374254109
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Urbana, Illinois, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$12.00
$3.75 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
New York: Farrar, Str and Giroux, 2008. 440pp. Index. Light wear. DJ: wear extremities, rubbing.. 1st. Hb. VG/VG-.
Item Price
$12.00
$3.75 shipping to USA
The Secret Life of Words:  How English Became English

The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English

by Hitchings, Henry

  • Used
  • Fine
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Fine
Edition
First US Edition
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780374254100 / 0374254109
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$21.99
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008 WYSIWYG pricing--no added shipping charge for standard shipping within USA. Grey boards, yellow titles on spine, vii, 440 pp, notes, bibliography, general index, word index. DJ extremities rubbed; in Brodart archival cover. According to the DJ, this is "a wide-ranging account of not only the history of English language and vocabulary, but also of how words witness history, reflect social change, and remind us of our past." Shipping weight 3 lbs. (International 2 lbs., 4 oz.). First US Edition. . Fine/VG. 23½ X 16 cm.
Item Price
$21.99
FREE shipping to USA