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From Afterwit to Zemblanity: 100 Endangered Words Brought to Life

Hertnon, Simon

Here is a collection of rare and neglected words that, if reintroduced, will help breathe much-needed life, savour and vitality back into the English language. Each of these 100 hand-picked words comes with a precise definition, a quotation from literature, a personal note from the author validating its inclusion in the book, and, as a light-hearted finale, an example of its use in a witty piece of serialised fiction. And these words are not just fun, they’re useful. Zaftig, for example, allows you to say ‘pleasingly plump’ without giving mortal offence. And millihelen is a unit equal to ‘enough beauty to launch a single ship’.

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