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  • Profile picture of ML light

    ML light posted an update 5 years, 2 months ago

    Attention all book worms! Are there any “classical” dictionary recommendations out there?

    • Profile picture of Diogenes of Babylon
      Diogenes of Babylon replied 5 years, 2 months ago

      Hard copies of early 1970s (and older) multi-volume dictionaries published by Oxford University Press (OUP) and Cambridge University Press (CUP).

        • Profile picture of Scarmoge
          Scarmoge replied 5 years, 2 months ago

          … The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia (The 1901 Edition, 10 Vols.) and also
          The Imperial Dictionary of the English Language (8 Vols.) 1896

          • Profile picture of FiatLux
            FiatLux replied 5 years, 2 months ago

            I second Diogenes on the multi-volume Oxford English Dictionary (the OUP dictionary he refers to, I’m assuming). It has long been considered the “gold standard,” or at least it was–I have no idea what kind of tinkering they’ve been up to in recent years. So early 1970s and older is good advice too.

          • Profile picture of primal_murmur
            primal_murmur replied 5 years, 2 months ago

            I am of the opinion one should hoard as many old, printed, dictionaries as is practical. If forced to decide between one or another, look up the word ‘gender’ — the way that definition is handled will tell you all you need to know.

              • Profile picture of FiatLux
                FiatLux replied 5 years, 2 months ago

                Funny–I was recently thinking, “Gee, with the way they’re changing definitions in real time, maybe I should get ahold of a printed copy of the next-to-latest edition of Webster’s.” I’ve got it on CD, but that’s not the same.