Oxford Dictionary of English (Dictionary) |
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Pages: 2110 (Hardcover) Editor: Angus Stevenson ISBN: 0198610572 Pub: OUP Oxford Pub date: 2005-08-11 Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 2786 |
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Editorial Review:
For many speakers and learners of English, the word "Oxford" spells authority about language. The second edition of the Oxford Dictionary of English is no exception. Any dictionary which comes from Oxford University Press (whose origins lie in the Middle Ages, the foundation of the university and the dawn of printing) tends to be in a different league from its competitors.
Based on the "Oxford English Corpus", language databases, which amount to "hundreds of millions of words of written and spoken English in machine-readable form", this hefty single-volume dictionary has four million words of text. That includes 355,000 words phrases and definitions, 12,000 encyclopaedic entries and 68,000 explanations. The statistics are mind blowing.
Like all good dictionaries it's bang up to date. "Greasy spoon", "data smog" and "WMD" are all here, scrupulously glossed. So, of course are wonderful, old, near-obsolete words like "editrice" and "bouffant". Plenty of proper names get in too. Did you know that a "Queensland blue" is a cattle dog with a dark speckled body as opposed to a "Queensland nut" which is another name for the macadamia nut?
Like other new dictionaries the Oxford Dictionary of English provides boxed usage notes which point up, say, the difference between "pedal" and "peddle" or discuss the vexed old question of whether infinitives may be split. More unusual are the 14 detailed appendices on, for example, English in electronic communications, collective nouns and proof-reading marks. Most useful of all is probably the "Guide to Good English" which manages to be both admirably concise and immaculately clear. --Susan Elkin
Reader Reviews:
An Oxford monster (0/0 people found this helpful)
This is a 'monster' of a tome, and probably the best single dictionary (and quite a bit more)resource you'll need.
Well worth the investment - go ahead an buy it, you'll be glad you did.
The Best (0/0 people found this helpful)
In our house this is called The Book. I am not a native English speaker but live in England for 10 years. It has only failed me on one or two occasions for VERY specific words, otherwise - absolutely fantastic. I love explanations for origin of some words and historic notes - on many occasions it doubles as the encyclopedia. Wonderful.
The bees' knees of dictionaries (4/4 people found this helpful)
A huge, detailed dictionary - and encyclopedia - makes it really two books in one. Its clear layout makes it incredibly user-friendly too. Take care when page turning though!
Plus points:
> Over a third of a million words, phrases and definitions.
> Encyclopedic entries include people and places.
> Detailed word origins.
> Usage boxes for guidance on English usage and common errors.
> Word meanings are numbered (compare this point to the multitude of semi-colons in the Chambers Dictionary).
> Very up-to-date (there's a definition of 'wiki').
Minus points:
> Pages are as thin as tracing paper and seem liable to tear. A huge disappointment considering the cost.
> It's too heavy too hold!
Does not live up to its reputation (13/21 people found this helpful)
I bought this dictionary as a definitive for the English language, but was very disappointed.
A major short coming is that most words do not have pronunciation information.
Also the paper is of very cheap quality - I guess this reflected in the price.
Stomping read (3/28 people found this helpful)
I agree with the previous review, but my money was on the Aardvark - I hadn't sussed the Zebra!
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Reference -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Reference -> Dictionaries & Thesauri -> General AAS
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin)
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Hardcover
Books -> Refinements -> Condition (condition-type)