Words & Ideas

Unlike most etymology textbooks, this one presents the words studied in the context of the ideas in which the words functioned. Instead of studying endless lists of word roots, suffixes, and prefixes in isolation, the words are enlivened by the social, literary, and cultural media in which they were used. Readers are introduced to a wide variety of topics from classical antiquity, entertained by clever cartoons, and are able to practice their word knowledge with exercises.

The strength of this textbook is that it presents to high school and college students words in the context of ideas: it is an etymology book that brings words to life.

Special Features

• Introduces students to a wide variety of topics in classical antiquity


• Chapters on Mythology, Medicine, Politics and Law, Commerce and Economics, Philosophy and Psychology, History


• Introduction to word building


• Exercises throughout


• Illustrations of ancient artifacts


• Clever cartoons on word origins


• Three indices: Names and Cultural Topics; Word-Building Topics; English Words and Phrasesr