book word

== English == === Alternative forms === book-word, bookword === Etymology === From book +‎ word. === Noun === book word (plural book words) (linguistics) A word that is encountered in writing but not usually in speech, which people may therefore not know how to pronounce (correctly). (linguistics) A word that is borrowed into a vernacular from a closely related literary language, thus being etymologically related to native vocabulary, but not showing regular sound changes. === See also === learned borrowing === Further reading === “book word”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. === Anagrams === wordbook