A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi" · The Origin of Foreign Words Used in English

**"English doesn't borrow from other languages. English follows other languages down dark alleys, knocks them over, and goes through their pockets for loose grammar."

** James D. Nicoll

Organized alphabetically for easy reference, *A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi"* is an accessible lexicon of foreign words and phrases used in English, containing everything from aficionado (Spanish) to zeitgeist (German). Inside you'll find translations, definitions, origins, and a descriptive timeline of each item's evolution.

Entries include:

À la carte: from the card or of the menu (French)

Fiasco: complete failure (Italian)

Dungarees: thick cotton cloth/overalls (Hindi)

Diaspora: dispersion (Greek)

Smorgasbord: bread and butter (Swedish)

Cognoscenti: those who know (Italian)

Compos mentis: having mastery of one's mind; with it (Latin)

Attractively packaged with black and white illustrations, this whimsical yet authoritative book is a great gift for any etymologically fascinated individual. Use this book to reacquaint yourself with the English language, and you'll be compos mentis in no time.