The hidden history of coined words

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Author:
Keyes, Ralph
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English
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ISBN:
9780190466763

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Grouped Work IDd47ae1ca-9c99-8275-9a5b-96870c9cab64
Grouping Titlehidden history of coined words
Grouping Authorralph keyes
Grouping Categorybook
Grouping LanguageEnglish (eng)
Last Grouping Update2025-08-01 05:08:36AM
Last Indexed2025-08-03 05:17:43AM

Solr Fields

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author
Keyes, Ralph
author_display
Keyes, Ralph
available_at_catalog
Athens Drive Community
Eva H. Perry Regional
North Regional
Northeast Regional
Southeast Regional
Southgate Community
collection_catalog
Adult Non-Fiction
detailed_location_catalog
Athens Drive Community - Adult Non-Fiction
Cary Regional - Adult Non-Fiction
Eva H. Perry Regional - Adult Non-Fiction
Green Road Community - Adult Non-Fiction
North Regional - Adult Non-Fiction
Northeast Regional - Adult Non-Fiction
Southeast Regional - Adult Non-Fiction
Southgate Community - Adult Non-Fiction
display_description
"How do words get coined? That question is explored in Ralph Keyes's latest book, The Hidden History of Coined Words. Based on meticulous research, Keyes has determined that successful neologisms are as likely to be created by chance as by intention. A remarkable number of new words were coined whimsically, he's discovered, to taunt, even to prank. Knickers resulted from a hoax, big bang from an insult. Wisecracking produced software, crowdsource, and blog. More than a few neologisms weren't even coined intentionally: they resulted from happy accidents such as typos, mistranslations, and misheard words like bigly and buttonhole, or from an unintended coinage such as Isaac Asimov's robotics. Many of the word coiners Keyes writes about come from unlikely quarters. Neologizers (a Thomas Jefferson coinage) include not just learned scholars and literary lions but cartoonists, columnists, children's authors, and children as well. Wimp, Keyes tells us, originated with an early 20th century book series on The Wymps, goop from a series about The Goops, and nerd from a book by Dr. Seuss. Competing claims to have coined terms like gonzo, mojo, and booty call are assessed, as is epic battles fought between new word partisans, and those who think we have enough words already. A concluding chapter offers pointers on how to coin a word of one's own. Written in a reader-friendly manner, The Hidden History of Coined Words will appeal not just to word lovers but history buffs, trivia contesters, and anyone at all who is interested in a well-informed good read"--
format_catalog
Book
format_category_catalog
Books
id
d47ae1ca-9c99-8275-9a5b-96870c9cab64
isbn
9780190466763
last_indexed
2025-08-03T09:17:43.294Z
lexile_score
-1
literary_form
Non Fiction
literary_form_full
Non Fiction
local_callnumber_catalog
422 KEYES
owning_library_catalog
Wake County Public Libraries
owning_location_catalog
Athens Drive Community
Cary Regional
Eva H. Perry Regional
Green Road Community
North Regional
Northeast Regional
Southeast Regional
Southgate Community
primary_isbn
9780190466763
publishDate
2021
publisher
Oxford University Press
recordtype
grouped_work
subject_facet
English language -- Etymology
English language -- New words
title_display
The hidden history of coined words
title_full
The hidden history of coined words / Ralph Keyes
title_short
The hidden history of coined words
topic_facet
English language
Etymology
New words

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Bib IdFormatFormat CategoryEditionLanguagePublisherPublication DatePhysical DescriptionAbridged
ils:750568BookBooksEnglishOxford University Press[2021]xvi, 375 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

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