Theodore Menline Bernstein (1904–1979)

As Bernstein explains in the Introduction:

“A conventional dictionary lists words alphabetically and gives you their meanings. This unconventional dictionary lists an array of meanings alphabetically and gives you the words.”

The older you get, the more you will find uses for reverse dictionaries because your mind just can’t bring up the proper word you know is in your head somewhere. So, for example, while you are driving along, and you see a “building of corrugated metal that is show more long, semicylindrical and prefabricated,” you no longer have to identify it as “oh you know, what’s-it-called,” if you have this book at hand. You can look up that exact description and be reminded that what you are seeing is a “Quonset Hut.” Or suppose you want to know what the obscure and fun word is for a dog lover. Look up “dog lover” and you will find it is “philocynic.” And you may know something you are observing is “inferior” but in this book you will get the exact term for “inferior as a substitute,” “inferior in any way,” “inferior in quality,” “inferior in rank,” “inferior and pitiable,” or “inferior to an appalling degree.”

I used to keep this book on my shelf, but I have started to take it along with me to social gatherings, so there won’t be a circle of us memory-impaired guests saying things like, “Oh, YOU know what I mean!”

A great addition to a book collection! show less

Vocabulary building is a life-long enterprise. This is always a good book to access as needed. While you may not always find the word you initially begin searching for, you will run across many others that will fill the creative void that you may be obsessing over during writer's block. Also, this is enjoyable to flip through to random pages to see where your eyes will land, and what odd-ball word fits the definition. Great for cross-word players!

This is a book that helps you think of words. It's for when you can't think of which word to look up in the dictionary. For example, the entry "distance of an 8th of a mile -- furlong" If you're trying to remember the name of a particular type of ruffle in Victorian women's clothing that you've never known the word for (or simply a better way to say "happy" (or put your finger on different types of happiness)) this is your book.

I use it with J. I.[ [Rodale]]'s [Word Finder] which has a wider show more selection of words (and a good dictionary if it points me to a word I don't know.) An important writer's tool. show less

Excellent reference. A bit outdated. A must for the writer's reference shelf.