Crossword Solver's Dictionary [Paperback]

Anne R. Bradford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1999

This unique dictionary is based on crossword clues, over 300,000 of them, cross-referenced to the possible answers. Includes hints on word plays, anagrams, puns, and puzzles, and general advice on solving cryptic crosswords.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'[a] wonderful dictionary'- Anne Barnard, London 'I have recommended this book to several people and refer to it as "my bible", which it is to me!... It's better than any thesaurus' - Mrs Youngman, Norfolk 'Having used it almost immediately I can notice the terrific difference in ease of use and I'm sure even now that this copy will wear really well' - Mrs Youngman, Norfolk --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Anne R. Bradford --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 728 pages
• Publisher: Peter Collin Pub Ltd; 3 edition (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1901659038
• ISBN-13: 978-1901659030
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,383,747 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Solver's Vademecum, April 12, 2000

By 

Derek Harrison - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crossword Solver's Dictionary (Paperback)

Anne Bradford's Crossword Solver's Dictionary would be my first choice, along with Chambers, to take on my desert island. It is a most dependable source of inspiration for the crossword solver.

For the past forty years Anne Bradford has been scrutinising every puzzle that she has encountered. She has broken down the clues into definitions and cryptic definitions and has carefully recorded and stored all the words, including those that indicate anagrams, reversals and puns. It is for this reason that this volume is so valuable in decoding the cryptic clue.

Even the most obscure word can be found under its every day definition. If you are searching your memory for a word meaning fidget, for example, just look it up and she gives you: fantad, fanteeg, fantigue, fantod, fike, fuss, fyke, jimjams, jittery, niggle, trifle, twaddle, twitch and uneasy. Word-length, crossing letters and subsidiary indications do the rest. If you are looking for a fish she gives you two pages of them!

I have found that this book makes solving the most difficult puzzle (including those of Ximenes and Azed) an easy task. It is undoubtedly the best of the solving aids available and I have no hesitation in recommending it to débutante solvers. The experts already have it on their bookshelves!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solving Made Easy, September 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Bradford's Crossword Solver's Dictionary (Paperback)

Anne Bradford has used her 40 years of crossword solving and setting to produce an essential aid for the crossword fan. She has examined every cryptic clue that she has tackled over these years and has compiled a dictionary that includes even the most obscure references. I find that this book can half my solving time and, when creating puzzles, it is a magnificent thesaurus. I can certainly say that this is the best crossword dictionary available.

1.0 out of 5 stars BRADFORD'S CROSSWORD SOLVER'S DICTIONARY, March 19, 2010

By 

Terry W. Trotter - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bradford's Crossword Solver's Dictionary (Paperback)

I ordered this because of some stellar reviews. I was very greatly disappointed. It is of little help, frustrating, and a total waste of money. Don't even accept one for FREE!!!

If you look up a word, the clues are listed in alphabetic order, regardless of length of the word (and the number of letters is not given - you must count them mentally. Most of the responses given (once you locate words of the right length - don't really help even to get a general idea of some answers.

Get a Roget's Thesarus, it's much more helpful!! (If I could, I would give it 0 stars.)