The only historical dictionary of slang -- spanning three hundred years of slang use in America.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
In 1947 Random House launched its first dictionary, the celebrated American College Dictionary. Today, half a century later, the publisher is recognized as one of the premier lexicographic houses in North America, noted for its careful attention to new vocabulary, both standard and nonstandard. Fittingly, Random House marks its 50th anniversary in the dictionary business with these two major publications, both of which will be familiar to librarians. Volume 2 (H-O) of the slang dictionary, which adds about 10,000 main entries to the corpus, maintains the impressive quality that distinguished Volume 1 (LJ 8/94). The final volume (Q-Z) is scheduled for publication in 2000. This is simply the best slang dictionary ever compiled, and all but the smallest public and academic libraries should have it. The College Dictionary, a descendant of the aforementioned American College Dictionary, first appeared under its current title six years ago (LJ 6/15/91). The new edition is a thorough update, offering first-rate coverage and treatment of American English as used in the mid-1990s. For instance, "chat room" is here, as is the latest connotation of "closure." It competes well with other dictionaries in its class, including Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (LJ 9/1/93) and the American Heritage College Dictionary (1993. 3d ed.). Essential for most collections.?Ken Kister, author of "Best Encyclopedias," Tampa, Fla.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"A landmark publication, at one stroke sweeping its predecessors into the shade . . . It is one of those rare books that prompts the realization that you have never seen the subject in such sharp focus before."
--John A. Simpson, Chief Editor, Oxford English Dictionary
"A monumental book."
--The New York Times
"Will do for nonstandard English what the Oxford English Dictionary did for the whole language".
--William Safire
"No one has ever created a scholarly work that is more fun."
--Newsweek
"The funniest . . . work of profound lexicographical slang-scholarship ever published . . . The book belongs on every patriotice coffee table."
--Nicholson Baker, The New Review of Books
"A browser's joy . . . an awesome tribute to the American popular imagination."
--Boston Globe
--John A. Simpson, Chief Editor, Oxford English Dictionary
"A monumental book."
--The New York Times
"Will do for nonstandard English what the Oxford English Dictionary did for the whole language".
--William Safire
"No one has ever created a scholarly work that is more fun."
--Newsweek
"The funniest . . . work of profound lexicographical slang-scholarship ever published . . . The book belongs on every patriotice coffee table."
--Nicholson Baker, The New Review of Books
"A browser's joy . . . an awesome tribute to the American popular imagination."
--Boston Globe
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 39 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This is an indispensible book for writers and for anyone who loves words, but only if you're looking for something from A to O, since Random House dumped the project. Hope may be on the horizon, though. As reported in William Safire's On Lanuguage column (NYT Mag. 6/29/03), the National Endowment for the Humanities came up with a grant of $325,000 over two years to keep J.E. Lighter's project going, and Oxford University Press picked up the challenge. Oxford is now working out the contract details with Random House.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By D. Rebnord
Format:Hardcover
The Oxford University Press has picked up sponsorship of this project from Random House and hopes to release Volume III (P- partial S) in May 2007 and Volume IV (remainder S - Z) in 2008.
In the meantime we have Volumes I & II to enjoy.
In the meantime we have Volumes I & II to enjoy.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Craig Miller
Format:Hardcover
I am an avid collector of dictionaries, and this is one of my favorites. It is an invauable reference, and fun to browse. The definitions are clear and, from my experience, accurate. The attempt to find the earliest references is impressive -- certainly the best of its kind, but it is not 100% accurate. No work of this type, which breaks much new ground and works so often from primary sources, could be completely accurate, but it it provides an invaluable foundation for future slang etymology. A truly awesome work. I check back monthly for volume III.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Randon House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Vol. 2 H-O
Purchased Vol. 1 back in the eighties when it was launched and always wanted to completed the collection. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Charlie
5.0 out of 5 stars
A welcome addition to my whimsical library
Be sure to read up on the background and life of the author, Jonathan E. Lighter. It will give you a a greater appreciation for the effort behind the series. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Research4Purchase
4.0 out of 5 stars
Writer's Aid
As a writer of both plays and screenplays, I'm always on the lookout for slang and regionalisms. This is an invaluable addition to my resources; it can be used as a means of... Read more
Published on August 20, 2009 by cr8vwriter
5.0 out of 5 stars
About those jerks at Random House
In 1997, when I received and reviewed this volume, a letter to the editor of the newspaper where I work used the word bimbo, which set off a long discussion among the editors. Read more
Published on October 5, 2008 by Harry Eagar
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oxford University Press is finishing this dictionary
Oxford University Press is currently undertaking the massive editorial work required to finish this ground-breaking four-volume set that was started more than 25 years ago. Read more
Published on March 9, 2006 by Grant Barrett
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incomplete - what a shame!
I am just a Chemist and not into the language academic field at all. Also from abroad. But this project of compiling the American slang is so much a part of American culture that... Read more
Published on November 30, 2004 by Dr. Peter Reynders
5.0 out of 5 stars
SNAFU AT RANDOM HOUSE
Yes, a big SNAFU took place at Random House. In the unlikely case you guys don't know what SNAFU means, you could always look it up in the Random House Dictionary of American... Read more
Published on June 16, 2004 by Settimio Biondi
1.0 out of 5 stars
Volume III ???
I think by the time volume III is published (if ever), volumes I and II will be obsolete and out of print. Read more
Published on February 4, 2004 by John Reublin
5.0 out of 5 stars
For the reference junkie and the curious.
I'm certainly one of the above, always have been. I have dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other reference books overflowing in my house. Read more
Published on August 11, 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
hard to find definition
Someone at work used the term "jamoke", and we all scrambled to determine it's meaning. This provided the answer, after many other dictionarys had yielded nothing. Read more
Published on December 7, 1999 by Ross McLeod
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