Progression

chrestomathy (kres-TOM-uh-thee) noun

1. A volume of selected literary passages, usually by one author.

2. A selection of literary passages from a foreign language, especially one assembled for studying a language.

[From Greek chrestomatheia, from chrestos (useful) + manthanein (to learn) These two parts of the word ultimately derive from Indo-European gher-(to like or want) which gave us yearn, charisma, greedy, exhort; and mendh- (to learn) that resulted in the terms mathematics and polymath.]

An example: A Mencken Chrestomathy: http://amazon.com/o/asin/0394752090/ws00-20

"'Emerson In His Journals' is more than a mere chrestomathy from the diaries, journals and notebooks. It is indeed a superbly edited volume."
Robert Taylor; Book Making; Boston Globe; May 16, 1982.

This week's theme: words about books.

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Posted by Keya at April 22, 2005 07:57 PM