Customer Reviews

Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This dictionary is a must-have for fans of British cryptics. It's widely used as the canonical reference for allowed vocabulary in these puzzles. It's also a great dictionary in its own right with a large collection of words, definitions, and useful information.

This dictionary is my favorite reference when doing the British-style crossword puzzles. It contains practically every word necessary in order to solve the above-mentioned puzzles. Amazon's price was competitive with my local bookstores, and I was saved the trip to the mall.
Thank you, Amazon.
D Geidel

I bought this to replace the copy which has been my constant companion of 30 years; 10 editions apart, there are many changes but the most significant is the sheer size - at 28x19 cms (11x7.5 in) its getting on for the size of a phone book, as hard to hold in one hand, and too big for the average desk shelf.
Even so, it contains 300 more pages than the old one.
I'm personally unhappy with the decision to include acronyms in the body of the dictionary, where they rather interrupt the visual flow, rather than in a separate and more compact list, as they used to be.
Definitions are now given in order of commonest use to rarest, as opposed to the previous system of chronological order.
Some of my favourite definitions have been dropped (Sceptic - an enquirer who has not achieved conviction), though most of the words I noted as missing from the old edition are present in the new

Hard to rate a dictionary but this one is splendid. Impressed by the sheer number of words they compressed into this volume. Contains a lot of colloquilisms and neologisms that the modern reader would appreciate. I especially like the description of fu@k or bit@h among other slangs. Good page quality for easy flip thru.

Fantastic book, a real page turner. Exciting ending (Spoiler: the Zebra did it!). Having expressed that, I must say that what I love about this dictionary is the sheer amount of words, the lucid definitions and its brilliance. I just love this dictionary and prefer it over the OED, and Collins. If you love the English language -- this is it!

This is a great gift for that wordsmith in your family. A rich resource and helpful addition to any bookshelf.

I purchased the latest reprint because of the offer of 6 month's Internet access free,which was a feature. The code and entry details did not work. I sent two mails complaining to Chambers of this and after some delay received information from Chambers which DID allow computer access,which is extremely helpful.