If you have an interest in the English language the new edition of ‘Wordgloss’ by Jim O’Donnell is an essential addition to your bookshelves.

First published to acclaim in 1990, this lively and engaging reference book has been extensively reworked and extended. Through its mini-essays, it explores categories that embrace law, politics, science, technology, literature, philosophy and the arts, illuminating each with its store of wisdom.
Sometimes in conversation when I want to express something I find that only one word will encapsulate the exact meaning of what I want to express. Such is the uniqueness of every word.

Skilled writers use words the same way artists use paint to create a picture in order to give perspective and understanding to the concept of their art. Often we use words and phrases in our daily lives without any knowledge of their origin. Each entry in ‘Wordgloss’ gives an insight into the origin of well-known words and phrases.

O’Donnell feels that because so few study the classics in our education system there is a lack of understanding of the roots of Greek and Latin that suffuse the vocabularies of the traditional core disciplines– philosophy, law, medicine, history, geography and mathematics and looks at how the newer disciplines like psychology, sociology and linguistics develop their terminology that is used in their particular science.

There is a danger that each faculty in third level institutions can develop a verbal universe sufficient for its own students which can undermine the cultural exchange in these centres of learning.

Do you ever wonder when you use phrases such as ‘Draconian measure’ or ‘Pandora’s box’ how those sayings came about?

One of my favourite entries concerns the Greek myth of Narcissus who was such a beautiful youth that many fell in love with him, both men and women, but he rejected them all. One disappointed lover prayed that Narcissus himself would fall vainly in love.

Nemisus, a mysterious Greek goddess personifying retribution, heard and granted his prayer. One day while Narcissus was out hunting, he came upon a spring and as he cast himself down beside it to quench his thirst he fell in love with his reflection. He tried to embrace and kiss the youth who confronted him, but then realising it was his own image he became infatuated and lay there gazing at himself hour after hour, day after day.

He ate and drank nothing and slowly wasted away, finally laying down his head on the grass and dying. The flowers with white petals and a yellow centre that grew round the pool are called narcissi. Hence the word narcissism, meaning an exceptional interest in or admiration for oneself.

It came as a surprise to me that English borrowed quite a number of colourful words from the Irish. For example Blarney meaning honeyed talk meant to deceive, came into the English language during the time of Queen Elizabeth I of England when the lord of Blarney, a village in county Cork, was Cormac MacDermot.

He found himself under intense pressure from the English Government, which was then moving towards the total conquest of Ireland, to renounce the Gaelic system by which he held his titles and acquired his privileges and to accept tenure of his lands from the English Crown.

Blarney gave the impression that he would concur with the policy but from day to day put off doing anything about it “with fair words and soft speech”. Finally Queen Elizabeth became exasperated. “This is all Blarney!” she declared. “What he says he never means.” Today, you can visit Blarney Castle where there is a magic stone that is believed to have the power to confer eloquence on all who kiss it.

‘Wordgloss– A Cultural Lexicon’ is a wonderful reference book, not just for students, but writers, politicians, speechwriters, readers in fact anyone that speaks English. This treasure trove of knowledge and information is in all good bookshops and is published by Lilliput Press. (ISBN 1-843351-073-1) at €20.00).