ORIGINS - A SHORT ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY OF MODERN ENGLISH - Foreword

Sep 26, 2026

Uploaded by Mary Man

ORIGINS is a short etymological dictionary of modern English by Eric Partridge, providing definitions and historical notes on word origins. The foreword explains why earlier large etymological works were unsuitable in scope and detail, and how a smaller entry count is compensated through cross-references and a tailored system. Partridge emphasizes coverage of civilization-related vocabulary, notes selective inclusion of slang, and discusses deliberate treatment of exotics and abbreviations for usability by general intelligent readers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages4246

Reading Time108 h 59 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Scope and design of the dictionary

Treatment of slang, dialect, and exotics

Use of abbreviations and usability

ORIGINS BY THE SAME AUTHOR A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English (Routledge; 6th edition (8th printing, in all)—U.S.A.: Macmillan.) A Dictionary of the Underworld, British and American (Routledge; 2nd edition, revised and enlarged, 2nd impression—U.S.A.: Macmillan.) Slang Today and Yesterday: a history and a study (Routledge; 4th printing,—U.S.A.: Macmillan.) A Dictionary of Clichés (Routledge; 7th printing—U.S.A.: Macmillan.) Shakespeare’s Bawdy: A Study and a Glossary (Routledge; 3rd edition, 2nd impression—U.S.A.: Dutton.) A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, by Captain Francis Grose: his 3rd edition (1796), edited, with a biographical essay and a running commentary, by Eric Partridge, 2nd edition (revised), 2nd impression. (Routledge—U.S.A., Barnes & Noble.) Usage and Abusage: A Guide to Good English (Hamish Hamilton; 6th edition, revised, enlarged, and brought up to date,—U.S.A.: (1) British Book Centre; (2) school edition, Grosset & Dunlap.) The Concise Usage and Abusage (Hamish Hamilton; 4th impression—U.S.A.: Philosophical Library.) Name This Child: a dictionary of Christian or given names (Hamish Hamilton; 5th edition, 3rd impression—U.S.A.: British Book Centre.) You Have a Point There: a guide to punctuation and its allies, with an Ameri-can chapter by John W. Clark (Hamish Hamilton; 4th edition, 4th impression—U.S.A., British Book Centre.) What’s the Meaning?: mostly for young people (Hamish Hamilton; 5th im-pression— U.S.A.: British Book Centre.) English: A Course for Human Beings (Macdonald; 5th edition: in one volume, and separately: Books I, II, III—U.S.A.: Macdonald.) The ‘Shaggy Dog’ Story: its origin, development and nature, with many seemly examples. Illustrated (Faber & Faber, 3rd impression—U.S.A.: Philosophical Library.) Adventuring Among Words: a light-hearted essay on etymology. A volume in The Language Library. (André Deutsch, 2nd edition—U.S.A.: Oxford University Press.) Swift’s Polite Conversation, edited with an introduction, notes and, for the dialogues themselves, a running commentary. (André Deutsch, 2nd impression—U.S.A.: Oxford University Press.) The Gentle Art of Lexicography: A Memoir (André Deutsch—U.S.A.: Macmillan,) A Dictionary of Catch Phrases (Routledge; U.S.A.: Stein and Day.) ORIGINS A SHORT ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY OF MODERN ENGLISH by ERIC PARTRIDGE London and New York First published in Great Britain in 1958 by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd Second edition (with some corrections and additions) 1959 Third edition (with corrections and additions) 1961 Fourth edition (with numerous revisions and some substantial additions) 1966 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2006. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of [eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk](eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk).” © Eric Partridge 1958, 1959, 1961, 1966 No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except for the quotation of brief passages in criticism ISBN 0-203-42114-0 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-37182-8 (Adobe eReader Format) ISBN 0 415 050 774 (Print Edition) piam in memoriam CECIL ARTHUR FRANKLIN a kindly and generous man and a remarkable publisher Philologists who chase A panting syllable through time and space, Start it at home, and hunt it in the dark, To Gaul, to Greece, and into Noah’s Ark. Cowper, Retirement FOREWORD PROFESSOR W.W.SKEAT’S large and small etymological dictionaries were last revised in 1910; Ernest Weekley’s Concise Etymological Dictionary and Ferdinand Holthausen’s Etymologisches Wörterbuch der englischen Sprache, both excellent in their way, treat words so briefly and ignore ramifications so wholeheartedly that it was easy to plan a work entirely differen

FAQs

What problem does the foreword say about previous etymological dictionaries?

It states that earlier works were revised long ago and often treat words too briefly, ignoring wider ramifications, which made it easy to plan a work with a different approach.

How does the dictionary compensate for its comparatively small number of entries?

The foreword explains that cross-references and the devised system allow coverage of a much wider field and enable more comprehensive, thorough treatment of important words.

What is the foreword’s main focus regarding word selection?

It highlights concentration on vocabulary tied to civilization rather than science and technology, while slang is represented only by a few outstanding examples and some words are included that are common in Standard English in various countries.

Sep 26, 2026

Uploaded by Mary Man