Average customer rating:
- COMPREHENSIVE, YES, BUT A BIT STRANGE TOO
- World Religions Dictionary
- Many faces of faithful response
- The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
- An excellent and comprehensive source
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The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
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The Oxford Dictionary of Classical Myth and Religion (Oxford Paperback Reference)
ASIN: 0192139657 |
Book Description
The best-value and most wide-ranging reference volume available on the subject The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions is an exceptionally wide-ranging A-Z reference guide to the history, beliefs, dogmas, practices, individuals, customs, and artefacts of the worlds religions past and present. As well as detailed information on individual religious traditions there are fascinating general entries on common topics such as prayer, ethics, asceticism, confession, cosmology, art and architecture, and music. With over 8,200 entries from eighty multi-faith international contributors this really is the definitive one-volume work on all the worlds religions.
Customer Reviews:
COMPREHENSIVE, YES, BUT A BIT STRANGE TOO.......2006-05-07
Most reviews have described the Oxford Dictionary as comprehensive, as it indeed is. Almost everything connected to religion in any way seems to be in here, including topics of amazingly recent importance. It is most unlikely that anyone looking through this volume will fail to find what he's looking for. The book deserves several stars for this alone.
But the book is also a little strange, even weird, in other ways. For one thing, the editor has an obsession with genetics that shows up in most of the entries he has worked on. He sees us as beings whose moral behavior is guided entirely by our genetic code. The article on adultery for instance, ignored the matter of how different religions have viewed the issue, and instead explained it away as a system of genetic enhancement! The same can be said of many other entries. His beliefs may be correct, but does this belong in the dictionary?
I was also a bit troubled by the left-liberal bias that permeated the book. Authors choose to ignore conservative and even mainstream belief, and thus give misleading and incomplete information on their topics. We are not even told, for instance, about homosexual sin in Sodom and Gomorah. The author merely says the town was destroyed because of inhospitality! Explanations like this may be popular in some quarters, but fail to do justice to the subject.
World Religions Dictionary.......2005-09-19
This book is necessary to all persons interested in the study of Religions. Gives to the reader the quick consultation needed when reading other text. It is a "Must Have it" in the library.
C. Giudici
Many faces of faithful response.......2003-07-16
The 'Oxford Dictionary of World Religions' is a concise and comprehensive single-volume reference to the religions, faith systems, and spiritual practises of the world. This dictionary has one of the broadest ranges for any multi-religious guide around. The book contains nearly 13,000 entries, broadly categorised as follows:
- Religions
- Movements, sects, cults
- Scriptural and philosophical text synopses and analyses
- Biographies of individuals
- Sacred sites
- Customs and practises
- Ethics and moral systems
- Themes on general topics
Edited by John Bowker, the text is introduced by an essay which pulls together philosophical, sociological and historical information tying together the concepts of religion. 'A strange thing about religion is that we all know what it is until someone ask us to tell them. As Augustine said of time, "What, then, is time? If no one asks me I know; but if I have to say what it is to one who asks, I know not." That has not stopped people trying to define religion, but their definitions are clearly different.'
Bowker, who has published several books including award winning books on the relationship of God and science, and the meaning of death in religious frameworks, has pulled together a team of over 80 contributors, some of the brightest names in the study of religion. Thus, articles and entries are contributed by experts in their respective fields, edited and cross-referenced by Bowker and his team of eight consultant editors who hold academic posts on three continents.
In an innovative fashion, Bowker has included a topical index in back which shows in an abbreviated and quickly-referenced fashion the interrelationship between topics; for instance, if one is using this text to research Anglicanism, in addition to such well-known entries such as Book of Common Prayer and Lambeth Conferences, one would be directed also to see the articles on:
African Greek Orthodox Church
Cambridge Platonists
Sundar Singh
Order of Ethiopia
Latitudinarianism
This makes for interesting reading. Every now and then, an article will be surprising. If you want to research Wrathful Dieties, there is an article so entitled, which discusses both the specifics of events in scripture (God in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scripture is sometimes shown as a wrathful and vengeful) and the general purpose behind the wrathful imagery (moral seriousness).
Also, if you want to know for certain what a Holy Fool is, here is the place! I confess I sometimes feel like a holy fool (as opposed to being more generally an unholy one), but this book has clarified this for me so that I no longer feel that way. According to the dictionary, holy fools are: 'Figures who subvert prevailing orthodoxy and orthopraxis in order to point to the truth which lies beyond immediate conformity. The holy fool endeavours to express the insistence of all religions that detachment from the standards of the world is the sine qua non of advance into truth.'
Many of the articles contain suggestions for further reading, either specific titles or, more generally, authors of note on the topic in question. This is a great reference source, and one I have referenced frequently both in my studies and my personal researches.
The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions.......2002-05-01
The dictionary does its job in explaining religious terms in an up-to-date, clear, and concise manner. The majority of the terms have at the end of the definition a list of books whereby the reader can persue the idea further. All of the broad terms (e.g., death, angels, sin) are broken down into sections for each of the major religions; the major religions themselves are broken down historically. There are a few terms, however, that I would have liked expanded, or were missing, but then again, this is just a general dictionary of religion.
A great reference source if you are interested in studying religion.
An excellent and comprehensive source.......2000-04-17
This book is probably one of the most comprehensive guides I've seen on the subject of the world's religions. It includes incredibly fascinating details on past and present religions. However, it may be too detailed for some.
Book Description
Hugely comprehensive and completely up to date, the Oxford Rhyming Dictionary is the ultimate rhymer's companion. An ideal reference tool for songwriters, poets, copywriters, and lyricists, and useful for students and teachers in the classroom, it offers over 85,000 words and is more than twice the size of most of it's competitors, giving you the best possible chance of finding even the most elusive rhyme. This dictionary is simple and straightforward to use: you locate the word you need in the index, and are referred to the place in the main text where you will find the words that rhyme with it. Browse a little further and you will also find, near by, close rhymes and half rhymes for the word in question. Words are organized according to their sound rather than alphabetically, which means you can find a rhyme to match a word as it is spoken, rather than how it is spelt. Whether you're in search of a gluey Drambuie, pastrami with tsunami, or a Salt Lake City subcommittee, this dictionary will help to increase your vocabulary and will take your rhyming skills to a whole new level.
Customer Reviews:
It has it all, but..........2007-08-04
It's not as easy to use as my Scholastic Rhyming Dictionary & its organization cd be a bit easier.
Rhyme Time Is not Scary with this Dictionary.......2007-05-22
Of the many rhymning dictioaries I own, The Oxford is among the best.
Not only end rhymes with one or two-syllables, but a decmil system for finding words with three syllables and beyond that rhyme.
A flexibility aiding the aspiring poet and more than that:
It is literally at my right hand during times of creativity. A definite
necessary writer's tool.Oxford Rhyming Dictionary
The Best!!!!!.......2006-01-24
This is without a doubt the most comprehensive rhyming dictionary out there. I'm in love with this book!! It has come to my rescue many times while writing poetry. I highly recommend this reference material to anyone whose looking for an assortment of rhymes.
Oxford Rhyming Dictionary.......2005-10-07
This fine publication is a splendid addition to my reference library! With over 85,000 entries, it is the most comprehensive rhyming dictionary I have ever seen. Using this reference work for rhyming words is great not only for poets, but for anyone who wants to add more innovation and fun to his writing. I especially like being able to choose from "strong" rhymes or rhymes that are less strong. It is easy to use because of the extensive index where one begins as he searches for that prime rhyme. Use it at teatime, playtime, showtime, dinnertime, springtime or any time! Use it in health and wealth!
A Must for Versifiers.......2005-08-26
Anyone writing verse needs this dictionary. It is by far the most complete rhyming dictionary available in English, and easy to use as well.
Average customer rating:
- collocations
- Insufficient words, maybe good for foreigners or beginners.
- oxford collocations
- Very helpful
- This is a gem!
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Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
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Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
ASIN: 0194312437 |
Book Description
A completely new type of dictionary that will help students write and speak natural-sounding English.
Customer Reviews:
collocations.......2007-09-25
I'm an English teacher in Mexico. I've found this dictionary very helpful to teach vocabulary
Insufficient words, maybe good for foreigners or beginners........2006-03-24
First of all, I only had a vague idea what the book was about. Once, I got the book, my opionion of it was not so fantastic as other reviewers had put it. It does do what it says by showing example sentences of how to use the words with other words, mostly by adding adverbs or adjectives in front of the subject word. The 'dictionary' has very few definitions. Only when multiple meanings exist, it defines it, making it real cumbersome if you do not know the definition. But, that occurs only seldomly, because, there are only 9000 words in the book. So most of the words are familiar words. (Elementary level dictionary contains at least 50,000 words.)
I would presume this book would be ideal for foreign students who have learned english vocabularies, but, do not know how to use them due to lack of experience in usage. Or, it would be a possible companion for someone who is writing at a beginner's level.
oxford collocations.......2005-10-11
If you want to improve your english you have to buy this book.
Very helpful.......2005-08-21
I am in a written translation course and this book has been very helpful when translating from Spanish into English.
This is a gem!.......2004-08-23
As a librarian, I have looked for a good dictionary of English collocations for years. Unfortunately, there are few titles available on OCLC and the Internet. Moreover they are either prohibitively expensive or not very helpful. Unlike all other dictionaries of this kind, however, Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English is truly outstanding for its completeness of coverage, page layout, information on usage, and surprisingly low cost. I wish to say that in addition to its other great features, this dictionary does a great job of helping its readers improve writing. I believe my investment in this dictionary is an extremely rewarding one.
My sincere thanks to Editor Diana Lea for this much-needed dictionary.
Book Description
From Baroque to Postmodernism, batik to mezzotint, and canvas to porcelain, this new dictionary provides succinct and accessible explanations of over 1,800 terms used in the wide variety of visual media that makes up the art world. * Extensive coverage of periods and styles throughout art history * Includes many materials, techniques, technical and foreign terms * Also explains philosophical terms and methodologies
Customer Reviews:
GREAT FOR LOOKING UP TERMS FAST!.......2007-05-14
THIS BOOK IS GREAT FOR LOOKING UP TERMS FAST! I TOOK THE PRAXIS II ART TEST EARLIER THIS MONTH AND IT HELP REFRESH MY MEMORY TO SEVERAL KEY TERMS ON THE TEST. THOUGH I RECOMMEND ORDERING OTHER ART TEXT BOOKS IF STUDYING FOR A TEACHERS EXAM.
Book Description
This book explores the relationship between research, teaching, and tasks, and seeks to clarify the issues raised by recent work in this field. The book shows how research and task-based teaching can mutually inform each other and illuminate the areas of task-based course design, methodology, and assessment. The author brings an accessible style and broad scope to an area of contemporary importance to both SLA and language pedagogy.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent!.......2003-08-15
This book is a must read for those interested in TBLT.
Covers all the relevant theoretical and research areas. It is academic and many not suit all. However I found this book indispenable in helping me undertstand what is going on in this field. I plan to read it again very soon.
A very useful book!.......2003-08-13
There is still a very small amount of books on TBLT. For years to come this book will be the 'bible' of this field. Covers all the relevant research, theories and so forth in sufficient detail. It is academic and may not interest the average language teacher. I have just finished reading it and intend to read it again. For those interested in doing research in this area, it it has many excellent ideas.
The Bible for TBLT.......2003-08-07
A little thick at times, but for those interested in the key issues and research that surround TBLT then you must buy this book! A very important book!
Amazon.com
A guide to precise phrases, grammar, and pronunciation can be key; it can even be admired. But beloved? Yet from its first appearance in 1926, Fowler's was just that. Henry Watson Fowler initially aimed his Dictionary of Modern English Usage, as he wrote to his publishers in 1911, at "the half-educated Englishman of literary proclivities who wants to know Can I say so-&-so?" He was of course obsessed with, in Swift's phrase, "proper words in their proper places." But having been a schoolmaster, Fowler knew that liberal doses of style, wit, and caprice would keep his manual off the shelf and in writers' hands. He also felt that description must accompany prescription, and that advocating pedantic "superstitions" and "fetishes" would be to no one's advantage. Adepts will have their favorite inconsequential entries--from burgle to brood, truffle to turgid. Would that we could quote them all, but we can't resist a couple. Here Fowler lays into dedicated:
He is that rara avis a dedicated boxer. The sporting correspondent who wrote this evidently does not see why the literary critics should have a monopoly of this favourite word of theirs, though he does not seem to think that it will be greatly needed in his branch of the business.
Needless to say, later on rara avis is also smacked upside the head! And practically fares no better: "It is unfortunate that practically should have escaped from its true meaning into something like its opposite," Fowler begins. But our linguistic hero also knew full well when to put a crimp on comedy. Some phrases and proper uses, it's clear, would always be worth fighting for, and the guide thus ranges from brief definitions to involved articles. Archaisms, for instance, he considered safe only in the hands of the experienced, and meaningless words, especially those used by the young, "are perhaps more suitable for the psychologist than for the philologist." Well, youth might respond, "Whatever!"--though only after examining the keen differences between that phrase and what ever. (One can only imagine what Fowler would have made of our late-20th-century abuses of like.) This is where Robert Burchfield's 1996 third edition comes in. Yes, Fowler lost the fight for one r in guerrilla and didn't fare too well when it came to quashing such vogue words as smear and seminal. But he knew--and makes us ever aware--that language is a living, breathing (and occasionally suffocating) thing, and we hope that he would have welcomed any and all revisions. Fowlerphiles will want to keep their first (if they're very lucky) or second editions at hand, but should look to Burchfield for new entries on such phrases as gay, iron curtain, and inchoate--not to mention girl. --Kerry Fried
Book Description
A standard reference work throughout the English-speaking world, this work is remarkable not only for the completeness of its information but for the wit and common sense with which it has been compiled.
Customer Reviews:
The standard to which all the others are compared.......2004-04-29
It is somewhat amazing that this book, first published in 1926, is still in print. The language has changed quite a bit since then; thousands of words have been added, hundreds have gone obsolete, and hundreds more have had their meanings shaded; and of course many of Fowler's pronouncements are now merely echoes of battles long lost or won. Not only that, but two newer editions of A Dictionary of Modern English Usage have been published, the excellent second edition edited by Sir Ernest Gowers in 1965 (now ironically out of print while the original finds yet another printing), and the not so entirely well-received (but underrated in my opinion) third edition, edited and revised by R.W. Burchfield in 1996.
How to account for this phenomenon? Part of it is because Fowler's reputation only grew after his death as several generations of writers sang his praises and adhered to, or sometimes fussed about, his many dicta on usage questions both great and small. And as the years went by, and as the pages of his masterpiece gave way to wine stains and silverfish or the few remaining copies disappeared from libraries, he himself became a legend. Not everything he wrote is considered correct today, nor was it then. And sometimes the succinct yet magisterial little essays he wrote were followed by other little essays that were all but impenetrable, obtuse and somewhat overbearing. No matter. The good greatly outweighed the occasional misjudgment, and the education he afforded us remains.
Another part of the story is that there is something very properly English and wonderfully nostalgic about the man himself. He was a bit of a character who lied about his age and joined the army when he was 56-years-old to fight the Germans in the Great War (only to faint on the parade grounds), a man who earlier gave up a teaching career because he did not feel it was his responsibility to prepare a student for the seminary. More than anything, though, the fact that this book is still in demand is a testament to the high regard and affection felt by the literate public toward Fowler himself.
What Fowler knew and preached was that before we could presume to be literary artists or journalists or even authors of readable letters we must of necessity, if we are to be effective, be craftsmen. Central to his purpose was the belief that the right word in its proper place and context constituted the backbone and much of the muscle and sinew of forthright and effective writing. That belief along with Fowler's celebrated passion for the concise and the correct, and his intolerance of ignorance and humbug, coupled with his sometimes incomparable expression, long ago won him the undying respect and admiration of careful writers of the English language the world over.
But this is something of a problem. Since Fowler last set pen to page some seventy-one years ago (he died in 1933), the English language has changed and grown enormously. What was correct and effective then, as well as what was ineffective, offensively brash or downright ugly has in some cases become acceptable and even felicitous. So, like it or not, Fowler had to be updated, and of course there was no shortage of lexicographers, linguists, grammarians, journalists and others looking to do the job. Furthermore, the "Great Divide" between American English and British English needed to be explained, recorded, and codified. Some of the people who have joined in this enterprise over the years have been H. L. Mencken, Jens Jespersen, Margaret Nicholson, Dwight MacDonald, Bergen and Cornelia Evans, and more recently, Bryan A. Garner and R.W. Burchfield, and many others. I think all of them, if they looked over their shoulder would see upon the wall an especially sober portrait of Fowler passing silent judgment upon their protracted labors. Certainly on their desks would be this book.
So I recommend that you buy that very impressive book by Garner (Garner's Modern American Usage), especially if you are an American, or splurge for a copy of that underrated third edition edited by Burchfield, and that you consult them as well as this venerable authority. As you use the books you may compare and contrast and get a nice feel for where the language has been and where it is headed.
The standard upon which the others are built.......2004-04-29
Before we presume to be artists or journalists or even readable purveyors of newsletters (or Internet blogs, for that matter) we must of necessity, if we are to be effective, be craftsmen.
Such a sentiment would, I imagine, sit well with Henry Watson Fowler who, some eighty years ago in collaboration with his younger brother Frank, wrote this famous book of English language guidance and prescription (and proscription!). Central to his purpose was the belief that the right word at the right time in its proper place and context constituted the backbone and much of the muscle and sinew of forthright and effective writing. That belief along with Fowler's celebrated passion for good writing and his intolerance of ignorance and humbug, coupled with his sometimes incomparable expression, long ago won him the undying respect and admiration of careful writers of the English language the world over.
And this has been something of a problem. Since Fowler last set pen to page some seventy-one years ago (he died in 1933), the English language has changed and grown enormously. What was correct and effective in 1926 (the year the 1st Ed. of A Dictionary of Modern English Usage was published), as well as what was ineffective, offensively brash or downright ugly has in some cases become acceptable and even felicitous. So, like it or not, Fowler had to be updated, and of course there was no shortage of lexicographers, linguists, grammarians, journalists and others looking to do the job. Furthermore, the "Great Divide" between American English and British English needed to be explained, recorded, and codified. Some of the people who have joined in this enterprise over the years have been H. L. Mencken, Jens Jespersen, Margaret Nicholson, Dwight MacDonald, Bergen and Cornelia Evans, and more recently, Bryan A. Garner and R.W. Burchfield (who edits the Third Edition of this book), and many others. I think all of them, if they looked over their shoulder would see upon the wall an especially sober portrait of Fowler passing silent judgment upon their protracted labors. Certainly on their desks would be this book.
And of course there is Sir Ernest Gowers who revised and edited this celebrated Second Edition. He writes in the Preface that the most important changes he had to make were those of vocabulary itself. "Words unknown in Fowler's day--teenager for instance--are now among our hardest worked." He adds that "Vogue words get worn out and others take their place." He admits to having omitted "one or two" of Fowler's famous little essays as being "no longer relevant to our literary fashions." (Would that he had preserved such specimens in an appendix.) He also allows that "many" of Fowler's "articles" called "for some modernization," and therefore, "a few have been rewritten in whole or part, and several new ones added."
So this is not your pristine Fowler's, yet so carefully did Gowers preserve and build upon that earlier edifice that most people have been quite pleased. In fact so nearly universal has been the admiration for this particular book that the so-called Third Edition of 1996, edited by the aforementioned Burchfield, has yet to receive universal acceptance and is indeed disparaged in some circles as not being true to the letter and spirit of Fowler.
For me two things stand out in this much admired Second Edition: (1) the absolute delight one finds in the many pronouncements on language; and (2) the odd but satisfying mix of the old-fashioned prescriptive grammarian commingled with someone who disdains pedantry for its own sake, and condemns what is seen as unnecessarily purist. Perhaps more than anything what one loves about this book is Fowler's incisive dry wit. Here is Fowler/Gowers on two words easily confused (those are my quotation marks since Amazon does not support the italics used in the original):
prescribe, proscribe. These words are often confused, especially by the use of "pro-" for "pre-." "Pro-" means to put outside the protection of the law, to denounce as dangerous; "pre-" means to lay down as a rule or direction to be followed. "If I look at the list of proscribed authors in our various universities, I notice with pleasure that since 1940 no year has passed without Jane Austen appearing in the syllabus of at least one." The speaker clearly did not mean, as one might infer from the word he used (or perhaps the printer substituted), that Jane Austen's works were on the Index.
Also of interest here is Gowers' Preface which amounts to an understanding and appreciation of Fowler and his work.
A great reference but not for the faint of heart.......2003-07-29
This work is witty and nearly unassailable, but I can't say that the uninitiated will find it accessible or as wine drinkers may say approachable. If you take pride in careful usage and want to make your writing precise, you can't go wrong here. If you've ever wondered how the words residence and residency both made their way into the language, the answer awaits you within these pages.
This isn't the place to get started with learning to write though. For those whose primary endeavor is not writing Strunk and White's Elements of Style or The Practical Stylist by Sheridan Baker will offer much to you on the practice of writing. These titles will also offer you many tips on constructing a piece of writing that you won't find in Fowler.
For those interested in a thorough treatment of usage and language you can't go wrong with Fowler though.
The classic usage guide; everyone should have one.......2002-09-10
Together with his and his brother's "The King's English," Fowler's "Modern English Usage" is the classic guide to writing good English. Those that say that Fowler is overly prescriptive are wrong; on the contrary, Fowler thinks less ill of split infinitives and prepositions-at-end than many more "modern" usage know-it-alls. I think that Fowler approaches writing in the English language as an engineer approaches designing a machine. The idea is "get the job done"---"how can I say this in the fewest words with the least ambiguity?" And that is what he teaches. Split infinitives aren't bad because they don't introduce ambiguity. The fused participle, on the other hand, introduces ambiguity, and should be avoided. "Good" Fowler English isn't just "proper" English, but English that is unambiguous and to the point.
Everyone that writes should have a copy of Fowler. But please, don't buy the "Third Edition," which isn't really Fowler. The second edition (edited by Gowers) is OK, but the first is really the nonpareil. The first edition is still in print (Wordsworth or a special Oxford reprint?) or you can buy it used---there are
lots of original Oxford University Press hardbacks floating around used here on Amazon[.com] that were pulled off high school shelves years ago.
A unique reference book.......2002-08-20
The historic quaintness of its grammar informs me and often makes me titter while reminding me of my birthright. No home should be without a copy no matter who the reader or their diction.
Book Description
This new edition of the Little Oxford English Dictionary is part of Oxford's new range of dictionaries based on the highly-acclaimed New Oxford Dictionary of English. In a portable and durable format, it is an excellent all-purpose dictionary, and is particularly suitable for secondary school level. The emphasis is therefore on clarity and accessibility both in terms of layout and content. The attractive new design makes it very easy to find the information you need, while definitions are written in clear and simple English, avoiding technical vocabulary. Pronunciation guidance is given using a simple respelling system. Extra help is provided in the shape of in-text notes which give guidance on spelling, usage, and selected word origins, and special panels which cover general grammar points, such as punctuation, word building, and parts of speech. The Little Oxford Dictionary is further enhanced by a 16-page quick reference supplement, which includes frequently misspelled words and commonly confused pairs of words, as well as lists of wedding anniversaries and countries and currencies. This title replaces the previous edition ISBN 0-19-860205-7.
Customer Reviews:
Disappointed.......2007-05-13
I really liked this dictionary, my friend had a copy, so I ordered it. This must be a newer edition, some of the words, esp Brit slang, aren't in mine, so I'm a bit disappointed.
Language Lovers.......2006-11-06
Let's face it: this is the only dictionary for people in love with language, especially the King's/Queen's English. For "Americanisms" the American Heritage might be better, but for serious writers and scholars, look no further. And this little mite is a chip off the old block, i.e., the Concise Oxford English Dictionary, which I keep on my headboard. This one I keep above my computer for quick, light-weight, i.e. easy-to-reach/grab reference. The best, is this one.
A Traveller's Dictionary.......2006-07-14
It is since the revised seventh edition that I've been using this dictionary. I replaced my old Harrap's Pocket Dictionary that I had been using until its demise. As a learner of English I always need a dictionary in my bag while I'm travelling and reading magazines, both of which I do daily. I've found the seventh and eighth editions pretty good, so I have ordered the ninth one too and am waiting for its arrival which is due in the early days of August. As I see it, the new edition is a couple of pages longer than the previous edition. These books don't have long lifetimes with me. They last for 2 to 4 years. They literally fall apart after that time. It starts with the spine, then goes on to the cover pages (these things you can mend with duct tape) and at last the contagion spreads to the "a" section of the dictionary (unfortunately, in spite of being a hardcover book, its pages are only glued together and not bound with thread).
Something more about the contents: The seventh edition still had the pronunciation guide with every single word using the International Phonetic Alphabet. Since the eighth edition this feature disappeared and was replaced by the almost random but very rare pronunciation guides (using the dictionary's own phonetic system) where the authors think that they are needed, however, quite often they are not available for words I would need them with and available with ones I don't know why they bothered with. On the other hand, the selection of words in the dictionary is excellent, I have to use the WAP dictionaries quite rarely to check words not in the dictionary. Still, at home I never use this dictionary. In the first round I use some advanced learner's dictionary (Oxford, Macmillan, Longman, Cambridge) or with rare words the Chambers Dictionary or the American Heritage Dictionary. I prefer advanced learner's dictionaries for all the extra information they give about the usage of words.
On the last pages of the eighth edition there is a Supplement with such useful sections such as Commonly Misspelled Words (or confused word-pairs), Countries (with adjectival forms and currency names), Weights and Measures, Symbols, etc. You rarely use these pages, but they come handy occasionally.
All in all, in my opinion this dictionary can be recommended to those on the move. It is worth the price and doesn't take up too much space even in a (sizeable) hand bag.
Mighty Minnie.......2005-07-24
This dictionary is really good for it's size. I was shocked that it had most of the words that I needed to look up in there. I keep it in the car to look words up while listening to books on tape lectures and it's really fabulous. It's got the hard cover so you don't demolish it, and it's small enough so it won't clutter. The binding is well made and can sustain a beating too. I got it on sale, but it's worth the asking price.
A Small Gem .......2004-10-10
I bought this tiny dictionary as a joke. I'm a retired professor of English and something of a reference-books hound. I have and use a number of English dictionaries, including some large, unabridged ones, and three of the best collegiate-sized ones. Unlike any of these, this little dictionary looked appealingly "cute," and I had in mind to give it to a ladyfriend, but I assumed it was too small to be taken seriously.
Just for fun I set it out where it would be handy and started to use it. I was surprised to discover how good it is; I was compelled to change my mind about it and came to regard it with a healthy respect. I've used it pretty extensively now for several months, and I can honestly say that it's difficult for me to imagine how a dictionary of this miniscule size (6 ¼ inches by 4 ¼ inches by 1 ½ inches) could be better than this one. Some will actually prefer it to the larger, more comprehensive collegiate-sized dictionaries, because it is quick and easy to use, there is an absolute minimum of scholarly paraphernalia, and its straight-to-the-point definitions are unusually succinct, pithy, and understandable. The guiding principle here seems to be: what are most users of this book going to want to know most when they look up this word? As the preface accurately claims, "Definitions are written in a very clear and accessible style, using everyday English and avoiding abbreviations and technical terms."
Pronunciations are given only when likely to be tricky. Inevitably there is much fuller information in the collegiate-sized dictionaries, but for someone who has a need for a tiny, handy, backpackable or otherwise easily portable English dictionary, this one can be confidently recommended as a model of cut-to-the-chase directness, brevity, and simplicity. And although it is a dictionary of British English, it is careful to note American variants in spellings and meanings, so it is useful for Americans. A remarkably good job, Angus Stevenson and Oxford UP; I would hardly have believed that so much could be squeezed into so little. Sometimes good things do come in small packages. This little gem is a keeper.
And for those seeking a more comprehensive dictionary of American English, I recommend the hefty but excellent New Oxford American Dictionary (2001, 2023 pages), American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd or 4th edition, and the king of the collegiate dictionaries, the classic "old reliable" Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, 10th edition.
Average customer rating:
- No problem with speed
- SLOOOWWWW!
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Shorter Oxford English Dictionary: Windows version 2.0 (Dictionary)
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM
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Oxford Thesaurus of English
ASIN: 0198606133 |
Book Description
This CD-ROM version of the new updated edition of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary allows you to perform fast and comprehensive searches in more than half a million definitions, augmented with thousands of new words and meanings and furnished with a new design. * Provides an extensive coverage of world English as well as a comprehensive coverage of scientific and technical English. * Contains more than half a million definitions with 83,000 illustrative quotations from 7,000 authors. * Entries list meanings chronologically and give dates for first use of each sense. * All major words in English used after 1700, plus the vocabulary of Shakespeare, Milton, Spenser and rhe King James Bible are included. * Provides details of rare and obsolete words. * New software with an easy to use interface and clear functionality. * New, modern and accessible entry design, interface and functionality enhance search and retrieval, with simple and advanced search options. * New sound recordings enable you to listen to standard British pronunciations for over 100,000 words. * Automatic look-up feature enabling you to access Shorter Oxford English Dictionary definitions from other applications * Hypertext search makes it possible to cross-reference any word in the dictionary with a single mouse click. * Option to install the SOED to the hard disk and run it without the CD-ROM.
Customer Reviews:
No problem with speed.......2005-06-12
The software launches quickly:
Dell Dimension 8200/P4 2.4GHz --- in 4 seconds
Dell Precision M 60/PM 1.7GHz --- in 2 seconds.
All headwords with pronunciation key seem to be recorded. The recording is splendid.
It is a very good supplement to the OED and SOED of the book version.
SLOOOWWWW!.......2004-12-22
I replaced Version 1 [1997] of the Shorter Oxford with this looking for pronunciation [though I'd prefer American to British] and some added words. This delivered both, but at way to high a cost in usability. Version 1 popped up instantly. This Version took well over a minute to load in a brand new laptop. And that was with all the content installed on the C drive...much faster than CD-Rom access. I can't overemphasize how cludgy this thing is to work with. After a few days, I uninstalled and went back to Version 1. There are many online dictionaries like freedictionary.com that offer the newest definitions and pronunciations that can be used to adequately supplement the older version.
Book Description
The Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms provides an easy-to-use source of over 150,000 alternative and opposite words to improve your wordpower and communication skills, and make your English more interesting and original. For each entry, synonyms are listed alphabetically, and antonyms are placed at the end of entries where appropriate. There are examples to show how words of less obvious senses are used, and markers such as 'informal', 'derogatory', and 'obsolete' highlight the usage style. There is extensive cross-referencing to other entries for extended lists of synonyms and to related words to broaden your knowledge. There is also a Lexicon of Hard Words with interesting and unusual words as diverse as erubescence (blushing) and jumbal (sweet crisp cake), which will provide fascinating and useful additions to anyone's vocabulary.
Average customer rating:
- Must read for lovers of words
- Very Sad
- A fun reference book that may make you blush...
- Straightforwardness over euphemism every time
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How Not To Say What You Mean: A Dictionary of Euphemisms (Oxford Paperback Reference)
R. W. Holder
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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The Penguin Dictionary of Epigrams (Penguin Reference Books)
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Oxford Book of Aphorisms
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Depraved and Insulting English
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English as a Second F*cking Language: How to Swear Effectively, Explained in Detail with Numerous Examples Taken From Everyday Life
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Slang and Euphemism (Signet Reference)
ASIN: 0198604025 |
Book Description
Renamed How Not To Say What You Mean, this brand new edition of A Dictionary of Euphemisms is packed full of the old favourites, such as 'early bath' or 'push up the daisies', as well as euphemisms from modern times, like 'human sacrifice', 'coffee-housing', and 'tuft-hunter'. Definitions include examples from real authors, along with historical explanations of origins, and now obsolete euphemisms like 'leaping house', 'nightingale' are signposted as such. And to prove that the use of euphemisms is not just a British speciality, there is widespread coverage of American euphemisms too: 'English' (pertaining to sexual deviance), 'watermelon' (an indication of pregnancy). Reviews for previous editions: 'This ingenious collection is not only very funny but extremely instructive too' Iris Murdoch 'Many printable gems' Daily Telegraph 'An informative, amusing collection' Observer 'Hugely enjoyable and cherishable' Times Educational Supplement 'This (excellent) book is your complete guide to every euphemism you could ever want to know and many you would rather not' Daily Mail
Customer Reviews:
Must read for lovers of words.......2006-02-21
The contents may be offensive to some readers. So be it! Words and their usage are part of our language. As an aside, I'd like to see someone take on the task of relating euphemisms to short titles of Congressional bills: Leave No Child Behind Act; Fair Tax Act; The USA Patriot Act; Help American Vote Act...
Very Sad.......2005-11-30
Overemphasis on sexual material. Would not have bought the book had I known this.
Believe Amazon "missed the boat" in recommending it to the general public. I am very disappointed.
A fun reference book that may make you blush..........2005-08-30
This is a good reference book for readers and writers, and possibly courageous public speakers. A thematic index at the back of the book makes finding the right term easy. The entries provide concise, clear definitions, as well as quoted sources which add clarity as to the origin and usage of the word or phrase. These authorities are cross-referenced to an author/work bibliography in the front of the book, handy for those who wish to conduct further research. Many of the euphemisms deal with sexual topics, a possible commentary on either the repressive or playful nature of our social mores. Most of the words and phrases are modern, at least within the last fifty years, but some obsolete terms are included, often to show comparison to current usage. While not an exhaustive study of euphemisms, or a substitution for a good slang dictionary, this is a great reference book to have, to use, and to read -- just for the fun of it.
Straightforwardness over euphemism every time.......2003-08-02
R.W. Hodderfs dictionary is very helpful for those of us who want to say and write to be helpful without ambiguity, and who rail against the subversion of political correctness.
How Not To Say What You Mean is the updated guide to probity, candor, earthiness, and straightforwardness. The dictionary provides definitions with example sentences as well as explanations where appropriate. Thematically indexed the entries are wide-ranging: work, sexuality, bankruptcy, clothing, education, politics and aircraft, provide the real meaning for phrases well-known and obscure we come across daily in speech and writing such as liquidity crisis, coronary inefficiency, four-letter man, normalization, investigative journalism, governmental relations, ethically challenged and year of progress.
Itfs a dictionary to browse, to be entertained by and take courage from. Highly recommended for all who have the courage to say and write what we mean.
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