3.5
The Painted Word
ByPublisher Description
To untangle the knot of interlocking meanings of these painted words, logophile and mythologist Phil Cousineau begins each fascinating word entry with his own brief definition. He then fills it in with a tint of etymology and a smattering of quotes that show how the word is used, ending with a list of companion words. The words themselves range from commonplace — like biscuit, a twice-baked cake for Roman soldiers — to loanwords including chaparral, from the Basque shepherds who came to the American West; words from myths, such as hector; metamorphosis words, like silly, which evolved holy to goofy in a mere thousand years; and words well worthy of revival, such as carrytale, a wandering storyteller. Whether old-fangled or brand new, all the words included in The Painted Word possess an ineffable quality that makes them luminous.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesThe Painted Word Reviews
3.5
“This book is really interesting. I really enjoyed learning the origins of these words. It makes for interesting dinner party conversations too. I did skip over a few; the foreign language entries didn't really interest me. There were several words in here that I had never heard before, so I definitely learned a lot from reading this book. I have its sequel also ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13584712.The_Painted_Word_A_Treasure_Chest_of_Remarkable_Words_and_Their_Origins and look forward to reading it sometime.”
About Phil Cousineau
Phil Cousineau is a bestselling author, editor, photographer, award-winning documentary filmmaker, adventure travel leader, and independant scholar who lectures around the world on a wide range of topics from mythology, mentorship, and soul. His books include The Art of Pilgrimage, Soul Moments, Riddle Me This, and The Soul Aflame. A protege of the late Joseph Campbell, Cousineau is also the author of The Hero's Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work. He lives in San Francisco, California.
Other books by Phil Cousineau
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