Merriam-Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus [Paperback]

Merriam-Webster Inc. (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0877798516 | ISBN-13: 978-0877798514 | Publication Date: May 2006 | Edition: 1

New title! Clear and concise word guidance featuring expansive synonym lists integrated with alphabetical dictionary entries. Includes abundant usage examples. Based on the best-selling Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.

Editorial Reviews

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: 1232 pages
• Publisher: Merriam Webster Mass Market; 1 edition (May 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877798516
• ISBN-13: 978-0877798514
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.4 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Thesauruses
  • #14 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Thesauruses
  • #15 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > General

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very useful, May 16, 2007

By 

Daniel Jenkins - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus (Paperback)

this is definitely going to be kept and well used. thick, which in this case, a good thing. tons of words, good font, definitely useful

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great help for school work, June 13, 2009

By 

Kristine F. Grover-range - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus (Paperback)

I got this for my son to help him with his school work, it has been a great help to his studies. Teaching himself in jail while we clear his name with just his school books and this book he is getting a "B" in all his classes.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just What Was Needed, May 22, 2011

By 

Kevin Hanson (Redondo Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus (Paperback)

Purchased this for an inmate - they could only have softcover books and he wanted a combination dictionary and thesaurus. He received it and said it was perfect for hiw human spell-check to go along with his pen and paper wordprocessor.