The American Heritage Dictionary for Learners of English [Hardcover]

Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This volume, a revised edition of The American Heritage English as a Secondary Language Dictionary (1998), provides an excellent resource for the intended audience of learners of English as a second language.

The dictionary is adapted from the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed., 2000) and defines more than 40,000 words, among them newer terms such as ATM, Internet, and on-line. Reasonably portable, it includes homonyms such as rote and wrote, which often confuse ESL speakers. Synonyms are also provided, with degrees of emphasis added. For example, synonyms for anger include rage and fury, with explanations as to their usage. Definitions for common idiomatic phrases such as here you go and look alive provide additional value, as do word-building lessons such as the ones on neo- and -oid, explaining how word parts are attached to existing words (e.g., neoclassicism, humanoid ). Somebody and something are strangely abbreviated as sbdy and sthg, a space-saving measure that will only serve to further confuse ESL learners, who are already confused enough. New to the revised edition is a reference section containing basic grammar, forms of address, U.S. states and capitals, and a few other items. Recommended for libraries serving ESL communities. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

The Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries and of other reference titles published by Houghton Mifflin Company are trained lexicographers with a varied array of interests and expertise. Most of the editors hold graduate degrees and have studied at least one foreign language. Several have degrees in linguistics or in the history of the English language. Others have degrees in science or sometimes other disciplines. All the editors familiarize themselves with the vocabulary in specific subject areas, collect materials on new developments and usage, and work in association with consultants to ensure that the content of our publications is as accurate and as up-to-date as possible.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1024 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (October 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618249516
• ISBN-13: 978-0618249510
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,862 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > Education & Reference > Etiquette > Conversation
  • #76 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > English

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Dictionary and Great Price--excellent for English Language Learners, April 23, 2009

By 

Elisa 20 - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The American Heritage Dictionary for Learners of English (Hardcover)

I've ordered several dictionaries looking for the right one for my adult ESL students. I've been very disappointed in all but this one--disappointed in how expensive they were, and in the formatting.

This American Heritage dictionary was a wonderful surprise. First,, it is a beautiful HARDBACK edition, for only a little more than $16 (unlike the $25...$30...and up many expect us to pay for small-print paperbacks).

I want my students to get comfortable working with a dictionary in class and this is the most readable I've found--well set up, nice size font, clear usage.

That, plus being a hardback at a good price....what else could you want?

P.S. To the person who gave it a "1 star" review because it is the same as the previous edition. Books go in and out of print. I don't know the earlier one, but this is excellent. "One star"? Come on!

1.0 out of 5 stars Too basic, January 19, 2012

By 

Esther L. (Los Angeles, California, United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The American Heritage Dictionary for Learners of English (Hardcover)

I bought this dictionary for my mom, but she said the words are too basic. She started studying minimal English at the age of six and she has taken college courses. No one in my family has been in ESL. We are Chinese immigrants and this is still considered basic. The dictionary proved useless. We may donate the item in the future.

If you are interested in purchasing this, I would not recommend it unless you have elementary school children or older immigrants on your hands. Otherwise, it's useless. All words can be found online, anyway. While it's true that it would be nice to have them all together in a single volume, this doesn't do the words any justice since most people who have studied an intermediate level of English would know almost all of them.

9 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars No need to buy for owners of the previous edition, October 4, 2002

By 

Ryoichi Kato (Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The American Heritage Dictionary for Learners of English (Hardcover)

I was very disappointed when I scanned this book. This book is exactly the same one as "The American Heritage English as a Second Language Dictionary". Really no difference, from the fonts to usage notes. If you are an owner of the above dictionary, don't buy this one.