From Bonbon to Cha-cha

Oxford Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases

Second Edition

Edited by Andrew Delahunty

432 pages | 196x129mm

978-0-19-954369-4 | Hardback | 23 October 2008

Also available as: Paperback

Price: £10.99

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Contains 6,000 entries drawn from over 40 languages
Details the history and usage of each word or phrase, many with illustrative quotations
Full-page feature panels provide fascinating in-depth information
Appendix lists entries by country so you can easily search for words from a specific language
Extensive coverage of words new to English in the 21st Century

New to this edition

Expanded coverage of terms new to the English language in the 21st Century
100 new entries including sudoku, e pluribus unum, and galactico
12 full-page feature panels providing fascinating extra information
Fully revised definitions to enhance browser appeal
Virtual thumb-tabs for ease of use

One of the most distinctive characteristics of English is the number of words and phrases it has borrowed - and continues to borrow - from other languages, originally and most notably from Latin and French but now also from every corner of the globe. From the frequently used veranda and futon to the less familiar quinquennium and catenaccio, from the longstanding in vino veritas and vade mecum to the recent doosra and galactico, this highly informative reference book provides a revealing record of that remarkable story. With 6,000 detailed entries from aa to zut, this dictionary is the authoritative guide to foreign words and phrases used in contemporary British and American English. Drawn from over 40 languages, entries provide details of the history of each word or phrase, including language of origin, spelling variants, pronunciation, and its sense and use in English.

Information is given on specific items of interest, such as the use of daemon in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, and full-page feature panels provide extra information on how specific languages and cultures have influenced particular areas of English. This new edition includes 100 new entries including sudoku, uber, and coitus interruptus, plus up-to-date coverage of words that have entered the English language in the 21st Century, including bruschetta, pashmina and galactico.

Ideal for both reference and browsing, this is a perfect book for anyone wanting to uncover the richness of modern English.

Readership: An ideal book for anyone with an interest in language, including students of literature and linguistics, and the general reader. Also useful for advanced learners of English.

The specification in this catalogue, including without limitation price, format, extent, number of illustrations, and month of publication, was as accurate as possible at the time the catalogue was compiled. Occasionally, due to the nature of some contractual restrictions, we are unable to ship a specific product to a particular territory. Jacket images are provisional and liable to change before publication.

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From Bonbon to Cha-cha

Oxford Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases

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