The Cassell dictionary of word histories

the long version

"Words grow and develop in many different ways. The whole process is a rich and complex process of borrowing, mutations and influences." "The Cassell Dictionary of Word Histories has been carefully designed to map a path through this labyrinth of sources and connections. Clearly and accessibly arranged, it traces the history and development of thousands of words from the very earliest days of the English language right up to the present moment. Entries show when a particular word first appeared in written English, where it came from and how it was originally formed. They also survey the ways in which the meanings of certain words have altered over time, sometimes dramatically so, as successive generations have found new uses for them."--Jacket.