Rating: 
Summary: I broke this book in two....
Review: ... because I use it so often. That's right, there are so many fascinating, helpful word origins in this book that due to over-use and laying the book out flat to read it (over breakfast, etc.), it's the first book I actually split in two down the binding. So now I'll need to get another one. I read a few word origins from this book almost daily, it's my favorite word book. These word origins reveal twists, turns and reverses of the human mind, history and culture over the ages. Mr. Ayto doesn't just pick a few of the most interesting words; I like that a wide variety of words -- including mundane -- can be found here. The author is candid (marking with an asterisk) about which pre-literate word origins involve guess work. At the end of entries you'll often find cross-referenced words.
Rating: 
Summary: WITH APOLOGIES TO THOSE WHO PREFER THE GUTENBERG FEEL...
Review: ...but take a look at "Wikipedia" ... or the online Merriam-Webster ...both of which between them contain a much more comprehensive (and updated) etymology of words and their origins. Being online they are also siginificantly faster for most people than rummaging through the pages of a fat tome. In my experience, the online stuff is also more detailed, for instances, check up the words "veranda" or "rickshaw". Hope this is useful.
Rating:
Summary: If the OED seems to obtuse for you...
Review: ...Then this is the book you want. Outside of the Oxford English Dictionary, it's the best (and least expensive) etymological reference I've come across, even better than The Oxford Dictioary of Word Histories, published by Oxford University Press.
Here's an example of a terrific entry:
PREY Prey comes via Old French prei from Latin praeda 'booty' (from which was derived the word paredari 'plunder', source of English depradation and predatory). This was a contraction of an earlier praeheda, a noun formed with the prefix prae-'before' from the same base (*hed- 'saize', source also of English get) as produced the verb praehendere 'seize'. This has been a rich source of English vocabulary, contributing through different channels such a varied assortment as prehensile, prison, and prize 'something seized in war', not to mention prefixed forms like apprehend, comprehend, comprise, impgregnable, reprehensible, reprieve, and surprise. It is also the ancestor of French prendre 'take'.
Here's the Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories entry for the same word:
PREY [Middle English] Early noun use included the sense 'plunder taken in war' (=that which is 'seized'); it comes from Old French preie, from Latin praeda 'boot'. The verb is from Old French preir, based on Latin praedari 'seize as plunder', from praeda. The verbal phrase prey upon is found from early times.
Both are complete entries, but one is obviously more complete than the other.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing.
Review: Among the memorable events of my life, is the discovery of etymology. Among the disovery of etymology, is this book. Wow. Ayto's style is simple, clear, and full of not only the technical details you might like (Indo European roots - Latin/Greek/etc. roots) but I continue to sift through Ayto's work even after consulting mammoth dictionaries such as Chamber's. He has insight, and offers some of the anacdotes that make the history of words so fascinating. Famous examples are Sandwhich, etc. but who knew that 'Alcatraz' is related to Pellicans is related to the Arabic word for 'Buckets' that have sprouts shaped like Pelican beaks? I quickly run out of breath reading his work as I fing myself so often saying 'Huh!' ... 'Ho!' ... 'Huh?' I love it.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing.
Review: Among the memorable events of my life, is the discovery of etymology. Among the disovery of etymology, is this book. Wow. Ayto's style is simple, clear, and full of not only the technical details you might like (Indo European roots - Latin/Greek/etc. roots) but I continue to sift through Ayto's work even after consulting mammoth dictionaries such as Chamber's. He has insight, and offers some of the anacdotes that make the history of words so fascinating. Famous examples are Sandwhich, etc. but who knew that 'Alcatraz' is related to Pellicans is related to the Arabic word for 'Buckets' that have sprouts shaped like Pelican beaks? I quickly run out of breath reading his work as I fing myself so often saying 'Huh!' ... 'Ho!' ... 'Huh?' I love it.
Rating:
Summary: useful pages
Review: an exceptionally useful work that is enjoyable to read - even when not specifically "researching" anything. It is easy to read and thorough. Well done.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Single Reference Source
Review: Ayto provides "the true historie" of more than 8,000 English-language words in a single volume, one which I consider to be the most useful of the several I own and regularly consult. Each entry is brief and precise. If you have a need and interest, or if you are merely curious about word origins and plan to purchase only one reference source, this is the one.
Rating: 
Summary: Hmmm
Review: I found the work to be lacking... Much prefer Hendrickson's ever-being-updated Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins more insightful.
Rating:
Summary: Valuable etymology
Review: I love this book. If you have a passion for etymology--or even if you don't--you will eat this book up. As a writer, I use it often for research, but sometimes I just sit and read it for pleasure. Well written, comprehensive, and delightful!
Rating:
Summary: Great for Research or Pleasure!
Review: I love this book. If you have a passion for etymology--or even if you don't--you will eat this book up. As a writer, I use it often for research, but sometimes I just sit and read it for pleasure. Well written, comprehensive, and delightful!
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