Clarence Lewis Barnhart (1900–1993)

This was my favorite dictionary throughout my college years. One of its features -- the way it clarifies synonyms -- had me reading for pleasure as well as for reference and research. At times I would read it an hour at a time, flipping from page to page, looking for words with enlightening synonym entries.

Throughout the years of my higher education in the 1950s and '60s, I got A's on all of my essays, term papers, and lab reports with the help of my American College Dictionary and my show more Harbrace College Handbook. show less

I found this great old leather bound dictionary, published in 1947, for $10 at a used bookstore. I've been looking for a good, basic dictionary for a while, now. How could I pass it up? Sure it won't have whatever the new buzzword of the year is, but for a quick look-up of an unfamiliar word, you can't beat the combination of price and distinguished looks.

I found this great old leather bound dictionary, published in 1947, for $10 at a used bookstore. I've been looking for a good, basic dictionary for a while, now. How could I pass it up? Sure it won't have whatever the new buzzword of the year is, but for a quick look-up of an unfamiliar word, you can't beat the combination of price and distinguished looks.

Names; Place Names; Encyclopedias