The Disappearing Dictionary: A Treasury of Lost English Dialect Words

Thoroughly enjoyable book. Not only does it give definitions of many wonderful words not used by everyday English speakers (though not entirely forgotten in dialects) but it adds in sentences and phrases in which they get used. My wife and I were laughing out loud at some of these while waiting in the Eye Clinic the other day...A delight for anyone who revels in words, and the wonder of the English language.

Joseph Wright was a 19th century philologist who compiled a huge dictionary of dialect words. As Crystal says in the introduction, the breadth and quality of Wright's work should place him in a category with Samuel Johnson, Noah Webster and James Murray. Unfortunately, there is simply not that vast of an interest in dialects.Although English is spoken worldwide, Crystal/Wright's focus was on the British Isles. It is there that the language has of course the longest history, and also there that regional dialects were able to differentiate themselves in the days before widespread travel and literacy.After a relatively brief introduction, Crystal goes directly into the dictionary itself. Here is a typical entry:bemoil (verb) Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire Covered in mud – from a French verb meaning ‘drench’ or ‘soak’. The word was probably known in Warwickshire too, judging by the way Shakespeare used it in Act 4 Scene 1 of The Taming of the Shrew. Grumio describes how Katherina fell off her horse in a really muddy place – ‘how she was bemoiled’.This is not a dictionary of slang or obscenity. Even some Shakespearean usage (viz, quim-faced) is not present. It is exactly as advertised, an extensive collection of dialect words. It will be of interest to philologists and lovers of classic literature who want to know exactly what an author meant by now-obscure usages.

A book of obscure and disappearing words. Whats not to love? The recipient is delight and I am sure will bamboozle her friends with some of the oddities in this book.

Interesting dictionary of (mostly) lost dialect words. I bought the Kindle version and it could have been more interactive. I cannot select individual letters of the alphabet, for instance.

Another absorbing commentary on the nuances of the English language

Yet another scholarly book from David crystal. Some humorous entries

It’s astonishing how many words are little used & likely forgotten. This book gives them the chance for their revival as some could be spectacularly used again by any reader blessed with some sense of humour.

Words that are seldom used today are re-discovered in this interesting book. Maybe it will encourage us to use these words again.

Wonderful book to help keep alive the English Language.

Could have been longer, with many non-UK examples included, but quite illuminating.

Ce petit dictionnaire est intéressant sans être "essentiel" (d'où 4 étoiles sur 5) . Pour ceux qui pratiquent la langue anglaise , il est la source d'une bonne base de données . Un peu l'équivalent de nos dictionnaires abrégés d'ancien français . De surcroit , le prix est attractif . L'ouvrage est destiné à ceux qui regrettent encore la disparition du "Thou" au profit de l'emploi uniforme de l'impersonnel "You" !!!

I really had a good time with this understanding how language appears changes and disappears. Good to know. I'll show ths to friends as it's on my coffee table.

Before buying this I read the reviews and the mention of The Meaning Of Liff persuaded me to buy this. I'm very glad I did. It's wonderfully entertaining and here are three of my favourite words:Linnard – the last to finish a mealCumpuffled – confused, bewilderedBetwattled – confused, bewilderedAs a consequence of reading this book I'll never use the words confused and bewildered again. I much prefer cumpuffled and betwattled. I've needed the word linnard since I was placed on the slow eaters table at junior school and now I have it.I'm sure anyone who reads this book will find at least one word they didn't know was missing from their vocabulary.

arrived promptly and as stated new

Excellent

excellent service, highly recommended

Bought as a present.

as in many languages, dialect is disappearing and making place for US newsspeak. so it is important to Keep the heritage