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  • The Etymologicon

  • A Circular Stroll through the Hidden Connections of the English Language
  • By: Mark Forsyth
  • Narrated by: Simon Shepherd
  • Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (35 ratings)

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The Etymologicon cover art

The Etymologicon

By: Mark Forsyth
Narrated by: Simon Shepherd
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Publisher's Summary

A quirky, entertaining and thought-provoking tour of the unexpected connections between words, read by Simon Shepherd. What is the actual connection between disgruntled and gruntled? What links church organs to organised crime, California to the Caliphate, or brackets to codpieces?

The Etymologicon springs from Mark Forsyth's Inky Fool blog on the strange connections between words. It's an occasionally ribald, frequently witty and unerringly erudite guided tour of the secret labyrinth that lurks beneath the English language, taking in monks and monkeys, film buffs and buffaloes, and explaining precisely what the Rolling Stones have to do with gardening.
©2012 Mark Forsyth (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
Social Sciences
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What listeners say about The Etymologicon

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Delightful fascinating funny

very funny romp around the weird connections and stories behind words. I wish it was longer!

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Profile Image for Black Friday

Funny and Fascinating

Wonderful book for word nerds. Not only is it fascinating and somewhat educational, but it’s very funny and well narrated. It’s sort of like listening to a long string of consciousness. Good entertainment and quite interesting, have been recommending it to all my equally nerdy friends.

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A cute little book.

If you like etymology, and want to kill 7 or so hour; this is a good book. It's not entirely coherent, and comes off as hours of "fun facts" in a subject that strikes my fancy.

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