3/15/22

Well, THAT only took seven and a half years. ( )

I love this book and reread it periodically. Full of juicy nuggets of information and history as created by imagination. ( )

The Wordsworth Dictionary of Phrase & Fable explains the origins of the familiar and the unfamiliar in everyday speech and literature, including the colloquial and the proverbial, and embracing archaeology, history, religion, the arts, science, mythology, and characters from fiction. This invaluable dictionary, which revises and updates the original work of Dr Ebenezer Cobham Brewer, encompasses material from all over the English speaking world and cites many equivalents from other European countries. The inclusion of quotations which accompany and illustrate many of the entries adds hugely to the value of this legendary work of reference.

Used it quite a bit. A good one to have if you are writing in the fantasy genre. ( )

Had to seek this out after seeing it mentioned by Terry Pratchett as one of his valued reference sources.

My 1927 edition has timeless curiosities but also is a reminder of how language changes and how some phrases plunge into disuse. Dusty old volume that makes me sneeze. ( )

With the transition from Cassell to Chambers has come a welcome restitution of some entries omitted from the "Millenium" edition, notably that for the mellifluous doctor. There are also numbers of new entries of both British and American provenance, making the book a welcome addition. ( )

A great find in my grandmother's old collection. 21st edition. A book plate on the inner front cover from "1891 St, Mark's School Southborough Sacred Study" with the signature of someone with the last name of Scott. A nice reference, but I rarely pull it down but for special purposes. A nice compendium!

I love being able to look up every magical question I ever had! And after the 17th edition, it must be good... ( )

The Wikipedia of the previous generations, a delightful compendium of trivia, essential knowledge, mythology, common phrases, and on and on and on. Nothing but interesting tidbits of knowledge to get lost in for long periods of time. Skews a bit to the British and the Victorian, but the updaters have done a fine job, and left all the historical goodies in. Indispensable is a good word, especially for writers and historians. ( )

you will need a strong will to close this book - look something up at your peril

A wonderful book to dip into and browse. Sadly, my reference use of it has largely been superseded by looking stuff up on the Web.

A delightful book, maybe I shall keep it in the smallest room for a while - it's great for browsing for a few minutes now and then. ( )

This classic reference work needs to be on every writer's bookshelf. ( )

Indispensible reference work. ( )

Absolutely indispensible reference work. Countless arguments have been settled with refeence to Brewer, which is always respected in this house as the "independent umpire". ( )

Remarkable book and very useful if you write. ( )

Fascinating links between everyday phrases and history, not actually useful as such, but its easy to lose a morning flicking from article to article. Occasionally useful as a crossword reference! ( )

The most original and quirky dictionary of origins of phrases, idioms, names and words with a story behind them that is completely compulsive. ( )

Scarcely changed since 1870. I defy anyone to read just one of its eccentric entries. Surprisingly useful, too. ( )

something that helps me greatly in the office ( )

I bought this after I discovered, when I attempted to look up "mellifluous doctor" in the 1999 edition, that it wasn't there. The Catholic Encyclopedia on Google told me more than I wanted to know about St Bernard, but as I expected, the older edition had an entry naming him. ( )

This is my absolute favorite reference book. I usually want to look up something and end up skipping through it for hours. A book that should be on every shelf. ( )

compendiuum

Phrases, mythological names