Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language

My fave unabridged dictionary. I have relied on my copy for two decades, now.

Best book ever for students or those who just want to know a little bit about a lot of stuff. Contains short entries for historical people, geographic locations, and other points of interest. The best source for information after the Internet.

Webster began work on an "American" lexicography in 1828, and after 20 years of work, compiled 70,000 words. As a result of his efforts, pronunciation and spelling became standardized. The United States has fewer dialects that any other large country in history.

Contains an Outline History of the English Language (Whitehall).
Supplements: Biographies, United Nations, Geography, Foreign Phrases, Abbrev., Address, Metrics, Signs, Geographic Features of the World, Mythology, US Presidents and VPs, Declaration of Independence, US Constitution.

A weighty, but very useful dictionary.