Word Perfect
Etymological Entertainment For Every Day of the Year
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from Wish List failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Word Perfect
Buy Now for $26.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Susie Dent
-
By:
-
Susie Dent
About this listen
Lexicographer and all-round word expert, queen of Countdown's Dictionary Corner for over 20 years, regular columnist for the Independent, Radio Times and The Week, Susie Dent is a national treasure. Her warm witty tweets reintroducing us to the words that we all need more in our lives from scurryfunge (frantically tidying up by shoving things into a cupboard just before visitors arrive) to apricity, (the warmth of the sun on a winter's day) are among the internet's most shared - now she's turning them into a linguistic almanac.
From 1st January to 31st December the listener will discover a curious coinage or a fascinating etymological fact linked to that particular day - from the dramatic true story behind stealing someone's thunder to the original Jack the Lad. Word Perfect gathers all her very best discoveries from the true origin of freelancer which comes from knights who were free to use their lance for whoever paid most, rather than being tied to a single lord. (Also secretaries kept your secrets so were secretries).
Sticks and stones should probably be still avoided but words, especially in the hands of Susie Dent, will never hurt you. We don't have to choose the negative, Word Perfect offers a vivid reminder that you can be gruntled, ruthful, couth, ruly, kempt, pecunious, toward, whelmed and full of gorm. And we all need a bit more of that in our lives.
©2020 Susie Dent (P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton LtdCritic Reviews
"Susie Dent is a one-off. She breathes life and fun into words and language." (Pam Ayres)
What listeners say about Word Perfect
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 12-10-2023
Fascinating
Answers many questions of where so many words and phrases originated. Love Susie’s mellifluous voice.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Isabelle
- 17-02-2022
Enlightening and Surprising!
I found this book to be a delightful surprise! I had a feeling I'd like it, but didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did somehow. Not knowing what word or phrase the next day would bring was quite thrilling and the discovery was very entertaining!
I was happily surprised to discover that the word for my birthday (August 21st) is "Oxford Comma" which pleased me greatly as I am a self professed nerd for grammar!
The one note I have would be that the audio dipped weirdly at times and get louder at others - I don't know if this was somehow my sound system/phone or if it was part of the recording, but I haven't had it with any other audio books 🤷♀️
Overall this audio book was a delight!! 🥰
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Neil
- 26-06-2023
Style, humour and wonder.
Susie Dent is a very specialist genius. Her ability to see the connection, draw logical conclusions and explain the entomological significance of words is only part of this. Ms Dent’s style and humour are the key that unlocks interesting and compelling understanding. Just a wonderful audiobook, that can be listened to in one sitting or 366 sittings.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Peta Baird
- 29-01-2022
Highly entertaining
I loved this insight into how the English language has been influenced by history and other languages.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Deirdre E Siegel
- 08-06-2023
Dictionary history revisited
This is for the non-fiction / fiction / comic / picture book or reader.
Truly Marvellous meander amidst memory history and a word.
Loved this humorous collection of chronological true theories told by Susie Dent, from her own researched treatise for our delighted erudite pleasure, so very brilliant ergo much appreciated, thank you Susie Dent :-)
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 19-02-2024
l words words words 💖
excellent I will re listen to this often. so interesting and Susy voice is lovely 🌹
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- RG
- 09-12-2022
Difficulty to follow day by day
This book is written to be enjoyed daily, with content for each calendar day of the year. However the chapters are monthly and it is difficult to pause right after one day so that the next day's reading can start at the beginning. This has read me to read it in chunks, as it's more difficult than it's worth to read it daily.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 26-03-2022
Read it, don’t listen to it.
Not a knock on the narrator but this book should probably be read, not listened to.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!