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Alphabet Juice: The Energies, Gists, and Spirits of Letters, Words, and Combinations Thereof; Their Roots, Bones, Innards, Piths, Pips
Alphabet Juice: The Energies, Gists, and Spirits of Letters, Words, and Combinations Thereof; Their Roots, Bones, Innards, Piths, Pips | Roy Blount
8 posts | 3 read | 9 to read
"If everybody's first English teacher were Roy Blount Jr., we might still be trillions in debt, but we would be so deeply in love with words and their magic . . . that we'd hardly notice." --Chris Tucker, The Dallas Morning NewsAfter forty years of making a living using words in every medium except greeting cards, Roy Blount Jr. still can't get over his ABCs. In Alphabet Juice, he celebrates the juju, the crackle, the sonic and kinetic energies, of letters and their combinations. He has a strong sense of right and wrong, but he is not out to prescribe proper English. His passion is for questions such as these: Did you know that both mammal and matter derive from baby talk? Have you noticed how wince makes you wince?Three and a half centuries ago, Thomas Blount produced his Glossographia, the first dictionary to explore derivations of English words. This Blount's Glossographia takes that pursuit to new levels. From sources as venerable as the OED and as fresh as Urbandictionary.com, and especially from the author's own wide ranging experience, Alphabet Juice derives an organic take on language that is unlike, and more fun than, any other."Amusing, bemusing, and smart as hell." --Daniel Okrent, Fortune"Danced in Blount's arms, English swings smartly." --Jack Shafer, The New York Times Book Review"Gracefully erudite and joyous." --Katherine A. Powers, The Boston Sunday Globe
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LibrarianRyan
This post contains spoilers
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The task was as many words as you could make out of the phrase “happy Halloween Team Harness”. I set a 15 min timer for myself. Here is what I have. If this was a Saturday only thing and my points dont count t I understand. I‘m playing catch up. The ones crossed out are dups. (Or spelled wrong)

#teamharkness #scarathlon2020. @StayCurious

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OrangeMooseReads
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Book and basketball

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OrangeMooseReads
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1. 3*F but feels like -12*F
2. Between 68-74 no humidity and the sun out
3. 64-65
4. Don‘t have a favorite but my current read it tagged.
#hellothursday @wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Thanks for playing! 💜 And stay warm! 🥶 6y
38 likes1 comment
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OrangeMooseReads
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Decided to pick this one back up. It‘s a bit of a book to read in that it isn‘t meant to be read front to back. You are supposed to start at the beginning and then flip back and forth between the “see: ...” words. It takes a while. It‘s a good book and humorous just takes a bit.

42 likes1 stack add
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OrangeMooseReads
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I love this word. 😍
(Picture via Pinterest)

LiteraryinPA I remember this word being used in an animated Disney movie. Bambi maybe? 7y
DGRachel @LiteraryinLititz Yep! Bambi. One of my favorite words, too!! 7y
slategreyskies I remember that word! I thought it was made up for the movie! 7y
48 likes4 comments
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Sace
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Bailedbailed

Nope. I just don't think the time is right.

Cinfhen 😂😂love your honesty 8y
49 likes1 comment
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MrBook
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#TBRtemptation post 4! Here's the subtitle: "The Energies, Gists, & Spirits of Letters, Words, and Combinations Thereof; Their Roots, Bones, Innards, Piths, Pips, & Secret Parts, Tinctures, Tonics, & Essences; With Examples of Their Usage Foul & Savory". Yeah, this'll be good. 350 years ago, Thomas Blount produced "Blount's Glossographia", the first dictionary of English word origins. This Blount adds a lot more! #blameLitsy #blameMrBook ?

OrangeMooseReads I have this one and have read most of it. It's interesting and fun. 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
61 likes8 stack adds2 comments
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Rachael1
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Pickpick

If you love words and language, this book is for you. It made me think about words in a whole new way!