The Oxford English Dictionary

by J.A.H. Murray (Editor)

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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The 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium. It traces the usage of words through 2.4 million quotations from a wide range of international English language sources.The OED has a unique historical focus. Accompanying each definition is a chronologically arranged group of quotations that trace the usage of words, and show the contexts in which they can be used. The quotations are drawn from a huge variety of sources worldwide - literary, scholarly, technical,and popular - and represent authors as disparate as Geoffrey Chaucer and Erica Jong, William Shakespeare, Charles Darwin and Isabella Beeton.Other features distinguishing the entries in the Dictionary are authoritative definitions; detailed information on pronunciation using the International Phonetic Alphabet; listings of variant spellings used throughout each word's history; extensive treatment of etymology; and details of area ofusage and of any regional characteristics.Alongside the print edition is the Oxford English Dictionary online (www.oed.com). Updated quarterly, this award-winning online resource allows the Dictionary to evolve with the English language while the print edition remains as a historical record. Subscriptions are available to OED online on anindividual or institutional basis. Visit www.oup.com/online/oed/ for details.… (more)

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Webster's Third New International Dictionary by Philip Babcock Gove (hippietrail, hippietrail)
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aulsmith: Between the Chambers and the OED I am seldom at a loss for an etymology

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3 v. Contains: vol. 1: A-O -- vol. 2: P-Z, Supplement [1933], and Bibliography -- vol. 3: A supplement to the Oxford English dictionary, volumes I-IV (

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ME_Dictionary | Mar 19, 2020 |

The OED has been on my bucket list forever; to find it in a thrift store for $8 was amazing. Especially with both volumes in good shape (the box not so much), and the magnifying glass still in its drawer!
I'm almost past being able to read the super-small print, even with the glass, but it's the fun of just having it in my library. (

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librisissimo | Jan 30, 2020 |

It's the OED. Why bother with any other dictionary? (

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smlawson | Aug 18, 2019 |

Without doubt the greatest lexical achievement produced thus far and probably the best printed dictionary that will ever be (since it'll all be just internets from here on out). Beautifully made, cleanly written, and tremendously researched. Fun just to leaf through, definitive in settling disagreements this is a book more people should spend more time with, myself included. (

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Eoin | Jun 3, 2019 |

THE dictionary of the English Language. Including the history of each word, and its various spellings and meanings throughout the history of its usage. (

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LarisaAWhite | Jun 21, 2015 |

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Murray, J.A.H.	Editor	primary author	all editions	confirmed
Simpson, J. A.	Editor	main author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Contains

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 01 by J A Simpson

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 02 by J A Simpson

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 03 by J A Simpson

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 04 by J A Simpson

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 05 by Oxford University Press

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 06 by J A Simpson

(show 16 more)

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 07 by J A Simpson

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 08 by J A Simpson

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 09 by J A Simpson

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 10 by J A Simpson

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 11 by Oxford

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 12 by Oxford

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 13 by Oxford

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 14 by Oxford

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 15 by Oxford

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 16 by Oxford

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 17 by J A Simpson

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 18 by J A Simpson

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 19 by J A Simpson

The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 20 by J A Simpson

The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary: Volume 1, A-O by Oxford University Press

The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary: Volume 2, P-Z by Oxford University Press

Is abridged in

The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary by Lesley Brown

The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles by William Little

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Canonical title

The Oxford English Dictionary

Original title

A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles; Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by The Philological Society

Alternative titles

The Oxford English Dictionary: Being a Corrected Re-issue with an Introduction, Supplement and Bibliography, of A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles: Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by the Philological Society

The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary

Original publication date

1884-1928

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Dedication

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Disambiguation notice

This is the complete Oxford English Dictionary.

Please not combine with individual volumes.

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Original language

English

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Canonical LCC

▾Book descriptions

The 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium. It traces the usage of words through 2.4 million quotations from a wide range of international English language sources.The OED has a unique historical focus. Accompanying each definition is a chronologically arranged group of quotations that trace the usage of words, and show the contexts in which they can be used. The quotations are drawn from a huge variety of sources worldwide - literary, scholarly, technical,and popular - and represent authors as disparate as Geoffrey Chaucer and Erica Jong, William Shakespeare, Charles Darwin and Isabella Beeton.Other features distinguishing the entries in the Dictionary are authoritative definitions; detailed information on pronunciation using the International Phonetic Alphabet; listings of variant spellings used throughout each word's history; extensive treatment of etymology; and details of area ofusage and of any regional characteristics.Alongside the print edition is the Oxford English Dictionary online (www.oed.com). Updated quarterly, this award-winning online resource allows the Dictionary to evolve with the English language while the print edition remains as a historical record. Subscriptions are available to OED online on anindividual or institutional basis. Visit www.oup.com/online/oed/ for details.

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