E-Book Overview
A rich, thought-provoking, and curious compendium of the myriad definitions attributed to each letter of the English alphabet.Merriam-Webster, move over! Until now, no English dictionary ever found the fun or the fascination in revealing the meanings of letters. One-Letter Words, a Dictionary illuminates the more than 800 surprising definitions associated with each letter in the English alphabet. For instance, Conley uncovers 69 different definitions for the letter X, the most versatile and printed letter in the English language. Using facts, figures, quotations, and etymologies, the author provides a complete and enjoyable understanding of the one-letter word.With the letter B, Conley teaches us that its many different meanings span multiple subjects including science -- B denotes a bloodtype and also is a symbol for the element Boron on the Periodic table -- and history -- in the Middle Ages, B was branded on a blasphemer's forehead. With the letter A, he reminds us that A is ot only a bra size, but also a musical note.This book is the essential desk companion, gift, or reference volume for a vast array of readers--wordsmiths, puzzle lovers, teachers, students, librarians, or armchair linguists. Once they pick it up they'll never be able to put it down.
E-Book Content
C RA I G C ON L E Y
ONE - LETTER WORDS A Dictionary
For M. T. Wentz The conquest of the superfluous gives us greater spiritual excitement than the conquest of the necessary. — Gaston Bachelard, French philosopher
INTRODUCTION
WHEN THE WORDS GET IN THE WAY Ninety-nine down: a one letter word meaning something indefinite. The indefinite article or—would it perhaps be the personal pronoun? But what runs across it? Four letter word meaning something With a bias towards its opposite, the second letter Must be the same as the one letter word. It is time We left these puzzles and st