Shorter Oxford English Dictionary: Thumb Indexed [Hardcover]

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

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198604572 | ISBN-13: 978-0198604570 | Publication Date: August 15, 2002 | Edition: 5

An updated edition of the reference work for modern English. The text is based on the 20-volume "Oxford English Dictionary" and manages more than one third of the coverage of the OED in one tenth of the size. It contains more than half a million definitions and illustrative quotations. The new edition incorporates a complete vocabulary update with over 3500 new words and meanings, and many new illustrative quotations from modern authors. In total there are over 83,000 illustrative quotations from 7000 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.

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

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

`. . . 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: 3793 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 5 edition (August 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198604572
• ISBN-13: 978-0198604570
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9.2 x 5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #755,172 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.