The Mavens' Word of the Day Collection

Book excerpt: What does "skanky mean? Where did "okay come from? Can I end a sentence with a preposition? Why do Americans say "zee and the British say "zed? Here is the book that Mavens fans have been asking for: answers to hundreds of questions on word and phrase origins, slang, grammar, and usage, all from Random House Reference's Word Mavens. This Collection is the first original book based on the hugely popular Mavens' Word of the Day feature. The best of the site's postings are gathered here, so that language buffs can browse the old-fashioned way without having to find an Internet connection. Many of the essays incorporate responses from readers to the postings, including follow-up research. Also included is an appendix of favorite electronic and print resources for word sleuths.