Super Short Summary

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams follows Esme Nicoll, who grows up around the compilation of the first Oxford English Dictionary. As Esme matures, she collects discarded words, especially those marginalized by the dictionary's male editors. Her journey intersects with the women's suffrage movement and World War I, ultimately leading her to create a dictionary of women’s words. Topics include abusive schooling, sexual encounters, pregnancy, and abortion.