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Title: Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged (CD-ROM 3.0 version) by Merriam Webster, Merriam-Webster, Editors ISBN: 0-87779-468-5 Publisher: Merriam-Webster, Inc. Pub. Date: 01 January, 2002 Format: CD-ROM Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $69.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.94 (31 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: W3 excludes proper nouns; names such as Russia
Comment: As reply to the reader from Brooklyn, I would point out that W3 discusses at length, in its explanitory notes, that this reference work defines no proper nouns. Names of people, such as George W. Bush, places such as Russia, and things, such as the Hope diamond, are not included among its entries. The editors explain that the printed version could not have been contained in a single volume if such encylopedic terms had been included. If you frequently need to reference such terms, you will need to supplement this specialized language reference with a geographical or biographical dictionary, or an encyclopedia.
Our reader from Brooklyn is quite correct in his assertion that W3 is dated. Apart from adding new words, this work has not had a major revision since it was first published in 1963. Many of its definitions are dated. The work reflects the mood and spirit of the 1950's more than of the new millenium. Still, its scholarship is unassailable, and the work, as a whole, is still invaluable. Until the folks at Merriam-Webster can update it--no easy task--this dictionary is still the standard for American English. Rumor has it that a new edition is being planned. These mammoth dictionaries take about a decade to refurbish, so this one is it, for the nonce.
Regarding performance, 30 seconds access time sounds very slow. I suspect this reflects an older and slower Mac. Are any other folks experiencing this?
Rating: 5
Summary: W3 or OED?
Comment: There are only two definitive English language dictionaries: Webster's Third (W3) and the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).
The OED has the advantage of scholarship, prestige and preeminence: it is generally regarded as the gold standard in the definition of English words. It achieves this primarily by citing historical books and manuscripts, going back in many cases to the dark ages, when the language itself was evolving. Comprising some 22 volumes and requiring more than three feet of shelf space, it is an impressive addition to anyone's library, albeit at a high cost. It is available, again at high cost, on CD ROM.
W3 is a single volume about four inches wide. It offers a precise definition of every word you will ever encounter (450,000 are listed) except for slang and jargon, obsolete words, technical vocabularies and recent additions to the language. It is not above providing an occasional literary allusion. It defines the English language.
Suppose you want to look up the word "synecdoche." Which of the following scenarios do you prefer?
(1) Find volume 10 of the OED and learn that Wyclif (1338) defined it as "whanne a part is set for al, either al is set for oo par . . ."
(2) Start computer, find CD ROM, load CD ROM, go to OED, step through program, find information, unload CD ROM, turn off computer, file CD ROM, go back to what you were doing in the first place.
(3) Open W3 and read "a figure of speech by which a part is put for a whole (as fifty sail for fifty ships) . . ."
W3 is THE dictionary. It belongs in everyone's home. At the listed price it is an incredible bargain. Highly recommended.
Rating: 2
Summary: Don't be fooled: This dictionary is from 1961!
Comment: The Webster's Third New International Dictionary is a huge and wonderful resource that has more than 400,000 word definitions. It's probably the second most comprehensive listing behind the Oxford English Dictionary.
I have a copy of this same dictionary from 1981. The primary copyright is 1961. The book listed here is supposedly published in 2002. All three editions are in fact the _third_ edition of the same dictionary.
One only need to look up certain words. Take "negro." This dictionary defines this as acceptable term for common useage. The term "anti-Semite" is defined not just as someone who has hostility towards Jews, but also anyone who opposes Zionism or sympathizes with who those who oppose Israel. Talk about a loaded political definition. Look the same term in any other modern English dictionary and you'll see a simple "Hostility towards Jews" definition.
Who knows how many other severely dated terms and definitions are in this dictionary.
A recent newspaper article stated that they don't plan to release the fourth edition of this dictonary for another 7 to 10 years. We're already looking at a dictionary that's 45 years old and it'll be 52+ years in age before it gets an update?
If you're looking at a dictionary of this magnitude my recommendation is to go for the "Short Oxford English Diciontary."
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Title: Roget International Thesaurus Indexed Edition by Barbara Ann Kipfer ISBN: 0060185759 Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: 15 November, 2001 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
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Title: The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition by University of Chicago Press Staff ISBN: 0226104036 Publisher: University of Chicago Press (Trd) Pub. Date: 01 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $55.00 |
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Title: Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary by Merriam-Webster ISBN: 0877797099 Publisher: Merriam-Webster, Inc. Pub. Date: 1998 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition by Merriam-Webster ISBN: 0877798095 Publisher: Merriam-Webster, Inc. Pub. Date: July, 2003 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
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Title: Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary by Merriam-Webster ISBN: 0877795460 Publisher: Merriam-Webster, Inc. Pub. Date: April, 1997 List Price(USD): $32.95 |
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