The Merriam-Webster English Dictionary (Paperback)

by Merriam-Webster (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A completely revised and updated edition of this best-selling language reference is now available. Covers the core vocabulary of everyday life with over 75,000 clear, concise definitions. Includes pronunciations, word origins and synonym lists. Special sections and tables.

About the Author

The Merriam brothers desired a continuity of editorship that would link Noah Webster's efforts with their own editions, so they selected Chauncey A. Goodrich, Webster's son-in-law and literary heir, who had been trained in lexicography by Webster himself, to be their editor in chief. Webster's son William also served as an editor of that first Merriam-Webster dictionary, which was published on September 24, 1847.

Although Webster's work was honored, his big dictionaries had never sold well. The 1828 edition was priced at a whopping $20; in 13 years its 2,500 copies had not sold out. Similarly, the 1841 edition, only slightly more affordable at $15, moved slowly. Assuming that a lower price would increase sales, the Merriams introduced the 1847 edition at $6, and although Webster's heirs initially questioned this move, extraordinary sales that brought them $250,000 in royalties over the ensuing 25 years convinced them that the Merriams' decision had been abundantly sound.

The first Merriam-Webster dictionary was greeted with wide acclaim. President James K. Polk, General Zachary Taylor (hero of the Mexican War and later president himself), 31 U.S. senators, and other prominent people hailed it unreservedly. In 1850 its acceptance as a resource for students began when Massachusetts ordered a copy for every school and New York placed a similar order for 10,000 copies to be used in schools throughout the state. Eventually school use would spread throughout the country. In becoming America's most trusted authority on the English language, Merriam-Webster dictionaries had taken on a role of public responsibility demanded of few other publishing companies. 

Product Details

• Paperback: 939 pages
• Publisher: Cengage Learning; Revised edition (July 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087779930X
• ISBN-13: 978-0877799306
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,390 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

134 of 136 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent Dictionary for Basic Definitions, September 2, 2004

By	Anne Janeczko (Indiana) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Being a university student, a dictionary that is compact enough to fit in a backpack amongst many textbooks is a must. This, the latest edition of the M-W Dictionary, fits that requirement. The text is easy to read and there is even a nifty reference section at the back containing "foreign words & phrases, biographical names, and geographical names".

I rate it at 3 stars because although the cover boasts "Over 75,000 definitions", words such as ontological and multivalent are not included.

I highly recommend this dictionary for students at the high school level, but university students should keep searching.

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is the one I always seem to reach for first.........., March 30, 2006

By	Brian Martin "foliowyrm" (From neither here nor there) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have a old hard cover Webster's collegiate dictionary that my parents gave me before I went to college sitting under my bed. I also have a huge 2 volume Oxford Shorter English dictionary gathering dust in my closet. I even have a unabridged Random House dictionary on the very computer I am writing this review on. I use all of the above occasionally, but the one I use the most is this little paperback dictionary that sits on my desk beside my bed. It usually has what I'm looking for and I rarely have to use one of the bigger dictionaries. The size is nice and it is light weignt so it is easy to carry around if you have to. If you need a small desk dictionary this is a good one.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great dictionary, March 2, 2006

By	Melanie "Amazon addict" (toronto,canada) - See all my reviews

I bought this for my son who is in grade 5, he had the cheap dollar store one, he was fed up with not finding words he needed for his project, i thought ok its for college students, but he loves it,...loves showing me new words he has learned...Great buy.