World of Words!

About this Book

<p>This truly informative etymology book&nbsp;will enlighten you as to the origin and meaning of hundreds of words, names and sayings in the English language. Because the author was from Great Britain, You will come across some essentially British words, but you'll nevertheless enjoy reading the book wherever you live.</p><p>The real reasons why most of these common words came into existence will astound you, so prepare to amaze your friends with your newly-found knowledge!</p><p>The book covers 36 subjects including Names of Countries, Tavern Signs, Religious Orders, Birds, Flowers, Wines, Spirits, Dances, Money, Churches and many more.</p><p>The name of Forget-me-not originated in the following legend: A German knight and his lady were walking on the bank of the Danube, when the fair one saw a beautiful tuft of&nbsp;Myosotis palustris&nbsp;growing in the water, and expressed a wish to have it. With chivalrous alacrity the knight at once plunged into the river and gathered his prize; but before he could regain the steep and slippery bank, encumbered as he was by his heavy armour, he was drawn by the treacherous eddy into a deep pool. Finding he could not save himself, he threw the flowers ashore to his mistress as he sank, and uttered with his last breath the words “Vergess mein nicht!” (“Forget-me-not!”) Hence this flower has come to be universally regarded as the emblem of fidelity.</p><p>Mignonette, the diminutive of&nbsp;Mignon, the French for “darling,” is so called on account of its delicate fragrance. The Carnation owes its name to the Latin caro, flesh, in relation to its colour.&nbsp;Geranium comes from the Greek and Latin geranos, a crane; this genus of plants having a beak-like torus, or receptacle. It is also known as Crane’s-bill for the same reason. Pansy is an Anglicized form of the French pensée, “thoughts,” this being the sentiment expressed by the flower.</p>