Author Description

Covering over 8,000 foreign words and phrases that are in regular use in English today, this updated and revised edition is a superb reference for anyone seeking a user-friendly guide to often complicated foreign terms and sayings. Readers will find clear definitions of words--such as "fandango," "bistro," and "nouvelle cuisine"--and many other words found in everyday speech, as well as in musical direction, the arts, food, medicine, science, literature, and belles-lettres. As one would expect in a language as global as English, the Dictionary draws words from a wide array of languages including Afrikaans, Greek, Hebrew, Hindustani, Russian, and Turkish. The entries are authoritative yet accessible, with detailed information on each word or phrase, including any alternative spellings, the date of the word's introduction into English, its language of origin and original spelling, its definition, and notes on usage and other points of interest.