English Dictionary. This reissue of the second edition is derived from the acclaimed tenth edition of the Concise Oxford English Dictionary, and uses evidence from the British National Corpus to show English as it is actually used today throughout the English-speaking world. Individual entries are now clearer, with phrases, derivatives, and etymologies all starting on a new line, and parts of speech, irregular inflections, subject and register labels written out in full. Guidance on points of grammar, usage, and spelling is provided in the shape of usage notes within the text.  (less)

how words behave in the language. Usage notes on tricky parts of English help you distinguish between commonly confused words, such as complementary and complimentary, orforbear and forebear, as well as giving advice on grammar. The Effective English section in the centre of the dictionary is packed with advice on how to use English in a variety of situations, such as writing CVs or letters of complaint. This revised edition has been completely redesigned and now contains even more practical help with correspondence. The clear layout and attractive two-colour design enable you to find the infromation you want quickly and easily, and the uncomplicated definitions give you the most accurate picture of the language possible.  (less)

York Times declared that the Compact was something of a miracle... easier to work with than the original... an extraordinary bargain. Since then it has sold over 330,000 copies in the United States alone.brBut the Compact did not contain the Supplements to the OED which have been appearing at regular intervals since 1972. Now, with their completion in 1986, all four volumes are being produced in a single micrographically reproduced volume to be called Volume III of the Compact OED. So the vital addendum, which transforms the OED into an indispensable tool for the eighties, will be made available for the first time in this convenient and affordable format.brThe Supplement, called the book of the century by Phillip Howard in the London Times, contains all the new words that have come into use during the twentieth century and includes as well the countless new meanings that have been applied to older words--over 69,000 entries altogether. It includes business terms, computerese, space-age terminology, colloquialisms and coinages by modern authors ranging from William Faulkner and Virginia Woolf to Gore Vidal and Erica Jong. Words like G-man, yuppie, user-friendly , test-tube baby, and Zen Buddhism rub shoulders with the most recent additions to subjects like law, medicine and engineering. The wealth of Americanisms in the Supplement also reflects a new direction for the dictionary. As editor Robert Burchfield explains it, The center of gravity for the English language is no longer Britain. American English is the greatest influence on English everywhere.brVolume III of the Compact is available in its own jndividual slipcase or combined with Volumes I and II in one slipcase. By a process of photoreduction fou@&8Që…¸ÿ¾Û€  (less)

and more than 82,000 translations; full coverage of idiomatic usage and illustrative phrases; style and usage notes; and helpful appendices of place names and personal names. Hard bound to last a long time, it is perfect for travelers, students, and anyone else who needs an inexpensive guide to the modern Greek language.brbrThis dictionary scores outstandingly well in comparison with others of its size. --Margaret Alexion, Times Literary SupplementbrThe dictionary is clearly printed and well laid out on good quality paper. Its flexicover will stand most wear. This is an excellent piece of lexicography and will serve well in any reference collection, especially at its almost ridiculously cheap price.--Reference ReviewsbrbrJ. T. Pring is a retired Reader in Phonetics at University College, London, and the original editor of this dictionary.br  (less)

meanings, origins, usages, and spellings. The book's rapid-access format presents a clear, open page layout that takes you straight to the word you need. A special new words appendix provides a fascinating survey of new words in the language, including such neologisms as animatronics, chromosome map, pro-choice, tanga, and World Wide Web. Over 280 good usage boxes gives guidance on difficult or confusing aspects of English usage, and the expanded offerings on word origins are presented in a concise, easy-to-understand form. With its compact size, clear layout, and handy paperback format, this dictionary is ideal for all quick reference needs.brbrAbout the Author: Della Thompson is the managing editor of the Concise Oxford Dictionaries Group. Her publications include The Concise Oxford Dictionary (9/e) and the Oxford Russian Minidictionary.br  (less)