Philip Howard’s legendary #145;Lost Words’ column has been appearing weekly in The Times for many years, wittily illuminating a raft of the most obscure, esoteric words the English language has to offer. At the same time, his #145;Word Watching’ puzzles have provided readers with the chance to pit their lexicographical skill against his tongue-in-cheek multiple-choice conundrums. This unique collection, bringing together the very best of all these, is a feast for word lovers. Here we can lament the disappearance of words like #145;accismus’ (an insincere and feigned refusal of something that is earnestly desired), and wonder why we ever thought we could do without #145;zoilus’ (a censorious, malignant or envious critic). And, once we have completed our journey through the dictionary entries time has forgotten, there’s more fun to be had, as we ponder whether having a #145;tirrit’ means one is in possession of a trumpet, throwing a fit or the proud owner of a type of bird, and if the charge of being #145;spissid’ is a comment on one’s girth, sobriety or resemblance to a javelin, either literal or metaphorical. Endlessly fascinating, Lost Words continues Philip Howard’s amusing and informative tour of words that enrich the English language and would otherwise have been lost forever.