Customer Reviews

Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English

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Overall this is a very useful dictionary with a good selection of words; clear, concise definitions; and a logical, easy-to-use pronounciation system.
However, this is a "Compact" dictionary, so in order to save space they have left out many ponounciations and etymologies. Also, it is written from a very British point of view, which, if one is an American, could cause some confusion at first.
Although the seller labels this book (understandably) as the "Compact Oxford English Dictionary," they are in fact selling the "Compact Oxford Dictionary of Current English." The former is a micrographically reproduced version of the complete OED in two volumes, while the latter (sold here) is a small desk-dictionary.
If you are looking for completeness I would suggest the 20-volume OED, but if you are looking for an easy-to-use dictionary that has a very large word-selection for its size, I would recommend the Compact Oxford Dictionary of Current English.

This compact and spartan OED of Current English is produced to fit the maximum number of entries in a compact space; the pages are thin, the definitions are terse, and there are no added maps, population tables, etc. A US user might cavil that a lot of British usage and slang is included. But on the whole it is a very useful dictionary, inexpensive, easy to read, with a vast number of words in a book one can carry about easily without back strain. It admirably suits the purpose for which it was designed, and I am happy to replace my old Webster with it.