Shorter Oxford English Dictionary [Hardcover]

William R. Trumble (Editor), Lesley Brown (Editor), Angus Stevenson (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198605757 | ISBN-13: 978-0198605751 | Publication Date: March 2004 | Edition: 5

The Fifth Edition of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary is a complete update of the most authoritative reference work for modern English. The text is based on the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary and, in fact, the Shorter manages more than one third of the coverage of the OED in one tenth of the size. The Fifth Edition contains more than half a million definitions in its 3792 pages. Its innovative design makes this vast amount of information easy to consult, and especially makes the fascinating illustrative quotations identifiable in their surrounding text . This new edition incorporates a complete vocabulary update with over 3,500 new words and meanings, and many new illustrative quotations from modern authors. In total there are over 83,000 illustrative quotations from 7,000 authors. There is extensive coverage of scientific and technical English as well as English from around the world. The Dictionary is written on historical principles: entries show the historical development of words by listing meanings chronologically and giving datings for the first use of each sense. All major words used in English after 1700, as well as all the words in Shakespeare, Milton, Spenser's Faerie Queene, and the King James Bible, are included; many rare and obsolete words are also defined. For scholars and those with a serious interest in the English language, the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary is an unrivalled resource for the study of the development and use of Modern English. Publication history: The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary was envisaged from the beginning as an abridgement of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). The first editor, William Little, was appointed in 1902. He worked on it until his death in 1922, after which the dictionary was completed by H. W. Fowler, Jessie Coulson, and C. T. Onions. The First Edition was published in 1933, in two volumes. The Second Edition (1936) contained about 3,000 revisions and additions. The Third Edition (1944) contained an appendix of addenda and corrigenda, and this edition was reprinted several times with corrections and additions, the most significant being in 1973, with enlarged addenda (now running to over 70 pages) and a major revision of all the etymologies. The `New Shorter' was prepared under the editorship of Lesley Brown 1980-1993. It was the first complete revision of the dictionary, being in fact not so much an overhaul of the existing text as a reabridgement of the OED and its Supplements. The New Shorter also included much material not yet published by OED. This Fifth Edition is an update of the New Shorter with thousands of new words. The title has changed to the original 'Shorter Oxford English Dictionary' to emphasize the link between this 2-volume dictionary and the original 20-volume OED.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Considering it was 20 years between the third and fourth editions of this work, this "abridgement" of Oxford's flagship OED after fewer than 10 years is most welcome. Given some of the advance publicity and advertisements, Oxford is clearly aware that to win in the dictionary wars (at least in the eyes of the general public), it is necessary to emphasize newer words added to the dictionary. The general coverage of the volumes remains largely unchanged from the fourth edition, however, even retaining the previous edition's preface and adding a briefer preface for the current edition. Still, some welcome changes have been made.

Like the previous edition, this work "sets out the main meanings and semantic developments of words current at any time between 1700 and the present day." Words such as achtande, knottle, or pompal (all present in OED Online) that are obsolete, obsolete variations, or rare are therefore not included. Words obsolete by 1700 are still included, however, if used by authors such as Shakespeare or other "influential literary sources." Headwords are traced back to their earliest usage. The dust jacket from the work claims it has "more than one third of the coverage of the OED" and more than half a million definitions, with 83,500 illustrative quotations from 7,000 authors. Although the preface does not cite the number of new entries, publicity from Oxford states that 3,500 new words have been added to this edition. An actual headword count is not given, though the publisher's Web site puts the number at 97,600.

The most welcome change to this edition is that the text is much easier on the eyes than in the fourth edition. Most notably, the illustrative quotations are placed within a tinted text box, making them very easy to spot. In the main entries, each definition sense is now started on a new line in clear, bold numbers (the older edition had all the senses grouped together in one paragraph), and etymologies are spelled out, with Old English or Middle Low German replacing the fourth edition's OE or MLG, respectively. Addressing a criticism RBB had of the fourth edition, abbreviations are now within regular alphabetical order rather than placed at the beginning of the alphabet.

Unfortunately, one thing the Shorter OED has not changed is its tradition of abbreviating dates of first use--and, when needed, of last use--for a headword (L19 for late-nineteenth century, M20 for mid-twentieth century). Because even collegiate dictionaries now routinely spell out a date range for first use, it is time Oxford adopted a similar approach. It would also be useful to attach a date to the illustrative quotations used rather than just citing the author.

With both OED Online and the print Oxford English Dictionary too expensive for many libraries, this is a reasonably priced work that includes the requisite neologisms (Bollywood, full monty, and phat, among others) to make it a goof-proof purchase for all libraries, even those owning the parent work. The Shorter OED has some entries (Jedi, Klingon, and warp drive) that are not even included in OED Online. In short, this is one badass dictionary deserving a place in almost every library. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

`Review from previous edition If you have bookshelves, shed them of the useless and find room for this . . .. This verbal nourishment is overwhelming.' Anthony Burgess, Observer

`. . . astonishingly good value . . . the new SOED is all that one would expect of it.' Keith Waterhouse, Daily Mail

`The Shorter demands a shelf, but one very close to the desk of anyone who cares about words.' Daily Telegraph

`It is a masterpiece and should be the cornerpiece of every literate home.' Irish Times

`It may be difficult to carry, but not to read' Erich Segal, Times Literary Supplement

`It must be difficult trying to come up with a bright marketing technique to sell the fifth edition of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary ...but the OUP seems to have managed it. On the box housing the two volumes of this mighty enterprise is a picture of a white-bearded gentleman in a cloak who, at first blush, appears to be J. K. Rowling's Albus Dumbledore. However, it is Sir James Murray (1837-1915), the first Editor of the real, 21-volume Oxford English Dictionary, of which the Shorter is an honest abridgement. More than half a million definitions are presented in clear type, set big enough for all but the most long-sighted.' Chris Campling, Times

`. . . truly a dictionary of global English.' Sydney Morning Herald

`It is a dictionary with zest . . . a rare treasure.' Frank Devine, The Australian

`The Shorter is a mine of information.' Toronto Star

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 3750 pages
• Publisher: Oxford Univ Pr (Txt); 5 edition (March 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198605757
• ISBN-13: 978-0198605751
• Product Dimensions: 13.1 x 10.3 x 5.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #421,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

142 of 145 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The dictionary most enjoyable to use., October 8, 2002

By 

Robert Bezimienny (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shorter Oxford English Dictionary: Thumb Indexed (Hardcover)

The clarity of the typeface and page design of this, the 2002 edition, is beyond compare. It is by far the most enjoyable dictionary to view, in my experience at least, and a great improvement over the previous edition.
*
Prior to purchase, I borrowed a friend's Compact Oxford English Dictionary with magnifying glass, thinking this might be preferable. While incredibly entertaining, with its extensive historical quotations, the format ultimately defeated me. In natural light, I could read the microtype with the nude eye, however this was a strain. This made it difficult to search within an entry for the particular sub-definition pertinent to my needs, and it discouraged incidental exploration of surrounding words (one of the great joys of a dictionary, for me) - the magnifier, with its limited field, does not rectify these problems - if anything it exacerbates them.
*
In contrast, this edition of the Shorter Oxford makes it a pleasure to browse adjacent words - the main words, in startlingly clear bold type, leap off the page and tickle one's interest; and within an entry orientation is easy.
*
This is a very comprehensive dictionary in its own right. Initially I was concerned that it comes billed as featuring only a third of the entries of the full (or Compact) OED. The concerns were unwarranted - the Shorter contains every word used by Shakespeare, the standard version of the Bible, and a host of arcane usages - with this on the bookshelf, one can read Cormac McCarthy and feel safe.
*
All in all, if the aesthetics of using a dictionary matter to you, as they do for me, then this must come close to being the perfect edition.

141 of 146 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent choice for word lovers, October 19, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shorter Oxford English Dictionary: Thumb Indexed (Hardcover)

I ordered this 2-volume dictionary after purchasing, and subsequently returning, the latest edition of the Compact Oxford Dictionary. The Shorter Oxford Dictionary is very easy on the eyes and quite a good browsing dictionary. The micrographic Compact Oxford Dictionary is certainly more exhaustive but is a real pain in the gluteus maximus to use (e.g., the eyestrain it inflicts, even with the big magnifying glass, etc). Oxford Publishing made a big, big mistake in going from a two-volume set with four OED pages reproduced onto each page to a one-volume tome with nine OED pages reproduced onto each page when they published the second edition of the Compact Oxford Dictionary.

Anyhow, the Shorter Oxford is a happy compromise if you haven't the shelf space or the budget for the 20-volume OED. However, I somehow feel that a bit too much page space is wasted in this latest edition. I realize they allowed for a lot of space between entries, margin area, etc in order for the book to be more eye-friendly, but I'd rather they'd used more of the available space to include more of the contents of the OED.

Nevertheless, this is an excellent reference, and certainly better than any ordinary dictionary for home, school, or office.

(However, I must admit I'd someday like to own the full 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary(OED))

53 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars There are still defective copies in circulation, February 5, 2005

By 

Gus G. (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shorter Oxford English Dictionary: Thumb Indexed (Hardcover)

I am very upset with this 2 volume dictionary by Oxford. Having read previous reviews dated back to 2003 on defective copies, I was hoping that in 2005 there would be no more defective copies in circulation.

However, after receiving my copy I am missing pages 1122-1171 and 1219-1221 missing from the 1st volume. From the 2nd volume I have pages 1795-1828 inserted between pages 3692 and 3705.

I contacted Amazon and they are sending me a replacement copy. They let me keep the defective copies as the shipping costs were too expensive for Amazon to reimburse me.

If the replacement copies are defective again, I will ask Amazon for a refund.

If you are planning on purchase a copy, be careful, check the other reviews for potential defects. Remember you always have the option for a refund.