500 Beautiful Words You Should Know

CRESTFALLEN at CHICANERY and CIRCUMLOCUTION? Have no TRUCK with TOMFOOLERY? Or OMNISCIENT about OBLOQUIES and OPSIMATHS? Whether you've answered yes, no or "sorry, I didn't catch that," this book is for you. It offers words that flow EXQUISITELY off the tongue; words that are just perfect for their meaning, like the lazy-sounding SLOTH and the heavy-footed GALUMPH; words that will make you sound clever, like DEUTERAGONIST and LETHOLOGICA; and words that are just fun to say, like LIQUEFACTION and LUXURIATE. It'll tell you where they come from, how to use them and whether you're likely to BAMBOOZLE anyone who's listening to you. With occasional special features on great words for colors, words from the Classics and words that make you laugh, this is a book to delight BIBLIOPHILES and BLATHERSKITES alike.

Caroline Taggart is the author of I Used to Know That, My Grammar and I (Or Should That Be 'Me'?), and a number of other books about words and English usage.