Well, since you're all so interested...
<br /><br />My favorite dictionary is the American Heritage Dictionary: Fourth Edition
(the same one that http://www.dictionary.com
lists the first definitions with). I like it because it gives you enough information with Greek and Latin words to know how to conjugate/decline (if you have already learnt the patterns), and it also shows the currently known Indo-European roots. There is also an Indo-European dictionary in the back which is interesting to me.<br />The best part about it is that it goes into great detail in quite a few entries on Word History, Synonyms, and Proper Usage.<br /><br />As for my etymology/language books, I possess:<br />Wheelock's Latin 6th Edition
Frederick M. Wheelock<br />*My main, but almost completed textbook.<br />445 Fascinating Word Origins
Webb Garrison<br />*This book tells you the stories behind words, but quite often and frustratingly leaves out the actual original words.<br />Latin Can Be Fun
George Capellanus<br />*An excellent source for Latin phrases and colloquialisms, written by a guy with a nice last name.<br />Dictionary of Latin and Greek Origins
Bob and Maxine Moore<br />*A good book. Not so much etymology as it is telling you the original word and related words (a good memory aid).<br />Latin Quips at Your Fingertips
Rose Williams<br />*A cute collection of Latin anecdotes, epigrams, and witty quotes with translation. Translations are a bit off in some cases, but you don't need a whole lot of fluency to realize the correct meaning.<br />Oxford Latin Course: Part 1
Maurice Balme & James Morwood<br />*An easy reader, mainly focusing on the childhood of the poet Horace with some exercises in the back. Now that I think of it, to those of you who are learning independently, I would recommend picking up a reader of some sort. Most of them are very simple and can be done by the equivalent of a 1 year Latin student or less.<br />Latin Crosswords
Peter Jones & David Dare-Plumpton<br />*Nice way to learn vocabulary. Some of the games are so hard though that I get deprived of learning the new words!<br />Teach Yourself Ancient Greek
Gavin Betts & Alan Henry<br />*Very fast-paced Greek text. I don't plan on learning Greek from it, but it serves as my only Greek book currently.<br />Latin for Americans
Ullman, Henry, and Anderson<br />*Old book my teacher gave me as a present when I was tutoring someone. I have 2 different versions, both from the 60's. They are supposedly better than most modern texts, though very boring to those who aren't total grammarians.<br />Latin for the Illiterati
Jon R. Stone<br />*A vast compilation of Latin terms and sayings. Translations are open to opinion (it tends to be fairly liberal for the sake of idiomatical structure). It includes a variety of topics ranging from "Insults" to "Animals" to "Love".<br />Forgotten English
Jeffrey Kacirk<br />*All those lovely archaic words that you (or maybe just I) love to stumble across in the dictionary
. Also offers accepted variants and stories behind the meanings.<br />The Queen's English
Andy Swapp<br />*Those quirky British phrases and words that confuse the heck out of everyone else.<br />Cockney Rhyming Slang
Gwyn Headley<br />*All right, Cockney isn't exactly a language ::), it's a fun read though.<br />Ecce! Romani!
I used to have this textbook but had to return it.<br />*A reader/textbook hybrid of reasonable difficulty.<br /><br />How about you guys? What resources do you use (other than on-line)?
flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae