Movers and Shakers: A Chronology of Words that Shaped Our AgeTake a fascinating journey from cornflakes (1907) to spam (1994). This vivid picture of the last 105 years is based on John Ayto's critically acclaimed Twentieth Century Words, and gives a selection of the key words added to the English language in the twentieth century. For each decade, an introductory essay identifies the main historical, cultural, and scientific currents, and shows how they contributed new vocabulary to the language. An A-Z listing of words which were first recorded in that decade follows, selected for their resonance to today's world. Each word is fully described and its origins explained. A final section looks at vocabulary developments of the new millennium. Full of surprises, Movers and Shakers is at once a glimpse of the past and a handbook for today. |
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20th century abbreviation acronym adjective aircraft Aldous Huxley American appearance back-formation became become Britain British British English broadcast called cinema coinage coined Cold War colloquial concept connotations culture Daily Express Daily Mail Daily Telegraph dates decade denoting derivative designed device Doomwatch drug earlier early Economist electronic English especially Essex girl established euphemism expression fashionable film French German Goon Guardian homosexual initial Internet jargon jazz known language late Listener living machine mainly means metaphor military motor National Nazi noun nuclear organization particular party person plastic politically correct pop music popular produced proprietary name quote radio recorded Science sense sexual slang Sloane Ranger social society someone Soviet Sunday synonymous television term originated usage usually verb vocabulary weapons Winston Churchill women word World World War II York young yuppie