Ernest Weekley (27 April 1865 – 7 May 1954) was a British
philologist
Philology () is the study of language in oral and written historical sources; it is the intersection of textual criticism, literary criticism, history, and linguistics (with especially strong ties to etymology). Philology is also defined ...
, best known as the author of a number of works on etymology. His ''An Etymological Dictionary of Modern English'' (1921; 850 pages) has been cited as a source by most authors of similar books over the 90 years since it was published. From 1898 to 1938, he was Professor of Modern Languages at the
University of Nottingham
, mottoeng = A city is built on wisdom
, established = 1798 – teacher training college1881 – University College Nottingham1948 – university status
, type = Public
, chancellor ...
.
He married
Frieda von Richthofen
Frieda Lawrence (August 11, 1879 – August 11, 1956) was a German author and wife of the British novelist D.H. Lawrence.
Life
Emma Maria Frieda Johanna Freiin (Baroness) von Richthofen (also known under her married names as Frieda Weekley, Fr ...
in 1899. Together they had three children: Charles Montague (born 1900), Elsa Agnès (born 1902) and Barbara Joy (born 1904). Weekley divorced Frieda in 1913 following her elopement with
D. H. Lawrence
David Herbert Lawrence (11 September 1885 – 2 March 1930) was an English writer, novelist, poet and essayist. His works reflect on modernity, industrialization, sexuality, emotional health, vitality, spontaneity and instinct. His best-k ...
.
Selected bibliography
*''The Romance of Words'' (1912; and subsequent editions in 1913 (2nd), 1917 (3rd), 1922 (4th) and 1928 (5th))
*''The Romance of Names'' (1914; and subsequent editions in 1914 (2nd), 1922 (3rd) and 1928 (4th))
**
*''Surnames'' (1916; and subsequent editions in 1917 (2nd) and 1936 (3rd)
*''A Concise Etymological Dictionary of Modern English'' (1924)
*''Words Ancient and Modern'' (1926)
*''More Words Ancient and Modern'' (1927)
*''Adjectives — and other words'' (1930)
*''Words and Names'' (1932)
*''Something about words'' (1935)
*''Jack and Jill. A Study in Our Christian Names'' (1939)
*''Words Ancient and Modern (new combined ed.)'' (1946)
External links
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1865 births
1954 deaths
Academics of the University of Nottingham
British philologists
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