The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English
by H. W. Fowler, F. G. Fowler
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Description
An English dictionary, featuring alphabetically arranged entries that encompass over 240,000 words, phrases, and definitions. In print through its various editions for a century, the Concise Oxford English Dictionaryis one of the most popular choices in Oxford's renowned dictionary line, selected by decades of users for its up-to-date and authoritative coverage of the English language.Tags
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Member Reviews
Possibly the best dictionary to roam the Earth. Love the ease of the whole thing. Just perfect.
Though not as thorough as the Compact Oxford English Dictionary, this dictionary houses all the words most use in everyday situations. I found it to be an essential tool when writing.
Where would I be without this book? it's always to hand and consulted daily.
Library Journal
This mini-version of a giant known as the OED claims to pack the authority of the original into a handy size ideal for use in schools, offices, and at home. Perhaps a bit far-fetched but pretty darn close. Has your computer been infected with spyware? This concise OED, which lists a total of 240,000 words and phrases, explains in English as spoken in North America, Australia, West India, and the British Isles, that spyware is "a software that enables a user to obtain covert information about someone's computer activities." Other up-to-the-minute additions (which total 1700) include punditocracy, sky marshals, and plasma screens (for a complete list of new words, go to http://www.askoxford.com). Other novelties include new show more appendixes, an improved layout that makes browsing easier, and stories of the origins and development of hundreds of words. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. show less
This mini-version of a giant known as the OED claims to pack the authority of the original into a handy size ideal for use in schools, offices, and at home. Perhaps a bit far-fetched but pretty darn close. Has your computer been infected with spyware? This concise OED, which lists a total of 240,000 words and phrases, explains in English as spoken in North America, Australia, West India, and the British Isles, that spyware is "a software that enables a user to obtain covert information about someone's computer activities." Other up-to-the-minute additions (which total 1700) include punditocracy, sky marshals, and plasma screens (for a complete list of new words, go to http://www.askoxford.com). Other novelties include new show more appendixes, an improved layout that makes browsing easier, and stories of the origins and development of hundreds of words. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. show less
This one's a must for the writer who expects to market internationally.
The best 'small' dictionary I've owned
A great reference for any writer!
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Some Editions
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English
- Alternate titles
- The concise Oxford dictionary of current English ; based on Oxford English dictionary and its supplements
- Original publication date
- 1911; 1951 (4th edition) (4th edition); 1964 (5th edition) (5th edition); 1982 (7th edition) (7th edition); 1990 (8th edition) (8th edition); 1995 (9th edition) (9th edition)
- Epigraph
- [None]
- Dedication
- [None]
- First words
- The book is designed as a dictionary, and not as an encyclopaedia; that is, the use of words and phrases as such are its subject-matter, and it is concerned with giving information about the things for which those words and p... (show all)hrases stand only so far as correct use of the words depends upon knowledge of the things.
Preface (1st ed., 1911).
In this sixth edition of the Concise Oxford Dictionary the changes made include revisions and additions resulting from a detailed scrutiny of the whole work, as well as modifications of typography and format to allow g... (show all)reater ease of use.
Preface (6th ed., 1975).
The preparation of the seventh edition of the Concise Oxford Dictionary has not involved such extensive changes as did that of the sixth, but consideration has nevertheless been given to several thousand points that ha... (show all)ve come to my attention since 1976, and many of these have led to further improvements and additions.
Preface (7th ed., 1981).
Abbreviations in general use (for example, those for the books of the Bible) appear in the dictionary itself.
Abbreviations and symbols used in the dictionary (7th ed., 1981).
This introduction is designed to help the reader understand the way in which information is presented in the Concise Oxford Dictionary, where, as the name suggests, compactness has been a primary aim.
Introd... (show all)uction (7th ed., 1981).
A, a, (ā) n. (pl. As or A's). first letter of alphabet; (Mus.) sixth note in diatonic scale of C major; first hypothetical person or example; highest class (of road, academic marks, ... (show all)population as regards affluence, etc.); from A to Z, over the entire range, completely; ... - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)zȳ'murgȳ n. branch of applied chemistry dealing with use of fermentation in brewing etc. [f. Gk zumē leaven, after metallurgy]
- Original language
- English
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 2,816
- Popularity
- 6,414
- Reviews
- 15
- Rating
- (4.35)
- Languages
- Chinese, English, French, German
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 56
- ASINs
- 50
