Our language is a hybrid of Greek, Latin, and some ten other languages. Word Stems lists and defines several thousand of the most commonly used foreign words found at the centers of our English ones. For instance, jur in Latin means swear. Jury, then, is a sworn body or group. And perjure means to swear falsely.

Bord, Anglo-Saxon for edge or side, spawns a variety of words: border, as in edge or demarcation line; overboard, meaning over the side of a vessel; starboard, the right-hand or steering side.

Italian for leg is gamb, as in the gams upon which you gambol. Ethn, which means nation in Greek, obviously is the base for ethnic and ethnology. And so on....

The Word Stems dictionary provides clues for keys to the meanings of the words themselves, allowing you to decipher them. A classic reference, it is invaluable for students and the perfect gift for word fanatics, puzzlers and writers.