The latest in the seemingly endless line of upper-middle brow treatises on bad words to come to my attention (thanks sionnach!) is Depraved and Insulting English, by Peter Novobatzky and Ammon Shea.

I haven't read it yet, but judging from reviews and the tidbits sionnach has graced us with, many entries look almost medical--the authors seem to draw more on Latin and Greek than stalwart Anglo Saxon. Which probably makes it all the easier--and more fun!--to slip innocuous-sounding gems like lotium into conversation.

Labels: Ammon Shea, books, Depraved and Insulting English, lotium, Peter Novobatzky