Word Perfect: Etymological Entertainment For Every Day of the Year

I just adore this book - who wouldn’t love “arsle” or “Firkytoodling” or “hufflebuffs”? - and used it to kickstart my 2021 journal, all part of a plan to combat Covid lockdown gloom. I add each day’s new word to the daily entry. I’ve been fascinated by words all my life, an avid reader since the age of 5. Added to this was moving around the U.K as a child, a place where accents, dialects and vocabulary can change within just a few miles- this added extra riches to my world of language. And Susie Dent is delightfully witty and playful.

What a great read. I had the best time discovering the meaning and origin of new or rarely used words. A perfect gift for a logophile.

I bought this book after watching a review on booktube and I must say that review was not wrong. My mission for this year is to read a word day for each day of the year instead of reading it all at once. So far I am really enjoying this book and look forward to each new word I get to read about each day. I love how I am learning about the meaning of certain words I knew nothing about. The writing style is inviting and thankfully not dry like a dictionary is. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading or for the amateur linguist.

I heard about Word Perfect from watching 8 out of 10 Cats does Countdown. I know that Susie is brilliant. This book is interesting, offers a lot of historical information, and is just a pleasure to read.

Wow yourself and your friends. This great book is fun, interesting, and manageable. The word a day for a year format actually gives you much much more in a way that isn’t overwhelming.

Fascinating book and beautifully bound. This is a great gift for anyone who loves words, and a really good gift for someone who doesn't! I could easily devour this book in one go, or read it as intended as a short chapter per day. Dent's writing is the perfect balance of charming and concise.

This book is fascinating for anyone who enjoys words. I gave it to two friends who served as “google” for the rest of the family before Google existed!

Everyday I read the daily entry page and learn something new about an old word or a common one with a crazy history. It is a combination of folklore, history and mythology and all about words. It is a delight. A perfect gift for anyone who loves reading, writing and learning.

Bought this for a book worm and she found it to be an interesting read, so I would recommend to others.

OK I'm a logophile. It's a lovely book - a book to dip into when and where it suits. I've used it as a prompt on my 'Eloquently Barking' blog - flick to today's date and there's your topic. Also ideal for finding and using obscure old English insults!

helps with teaching English as a foreign language

Es muy interesante

A word a day from Susie Dent is a lovely way to start the day. The book is written knowledgeably and intelligently by one of the best lexicographers out there. Having seen and heard her on the UK’s Countdown and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and on her fantastic Something Rhymes with Purple podcast, I can feel the love of language she has come through the pages, and I can hear her voice reading to me without the need of the audio version of the book.Highly recommend this delightful book.