Lost origins of words revealed. We like to recount that goodbye started out as "god be with
you " that whiskey comes from the Gaelic for "water of life " or that avocado originated as the
Aztec word for "testicle." But there are many words with origins unknown disputed or so
buried in old journals that they may as well be lost to the general public. In Origin
Uncertain: Unraveling the Mysteries of Etymology eminent etymologist Anatoly Liberman draws on
his professional expertise and etymological database to tell the stories of less understood
words such as nerd fake ain't hitchhike trash curmudgeon and quiz as well as puzzling
idioms like kick the bucket and pay through the nose. By casting a net so broadly the book
addresses language history language usage (including grammar) history (both ancient and
modern) religion superstitions and material culture. Writing in the spirit of adventure
through the annals of word origins Liberman also shows how historical linguists construct
etymologies how to evaluate competing explanations and how to pursue further research.
