Regarding word origins for the question by Blade06 (sorry can¢t remember your real name from your intro and I'm having problems just replying to the e-mail) my mom used to have a dictionary of word origins. I found this: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1559702141/102-4949175-8700120?v=glance and it looks very similar to the one she used to have. It¢s a very useful book, I¢ve always wished that I knew of a way to swipe it from her, but she¢s sort of possessive of it.
Anyway, hope it helps.
Priscilla