Customer Reviews

Webster's Compact Rhyming Dictionary

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is THE book for writers of rhymes who are anyone short of the likes of Cole Porter, one of the master of off-beat, intricate rhymes. This book is easy to use, presents good explanations (brief, to the point) in the short preface, and includes an excellent list with illustrations of pronunciation symbols. If you are like I---kinda embarrassed, reluctant, to have to depend on a reference book for your rhymes---be relaxed: Steve Sodheim and others of such find rhyming reputations have said in public that they do indeed use such references. This gem has 50,000 entries---no, I did not count them; I take the word of the cover info---and if you can't find a rhyme you need in that stack, you may be streaching too far to create your jingle. Enjoy!

I was bought this fine book by my sister and mother because I had trouble rhyming one word with another. This Webster's Compact Rhyming Dictionary struck me as being quite extraordinary. "Is it the book that's compact or the rhymes it provides?" I pondered while reading the small book's outsides. "Was old Webster's name tarnished by this poor reference, with thoroughness diminished for a smaller size preference?"

But I opened the book and found on the paper, the rhymes that I wanted, like "temper" and "diaper". In short, tiny fontwork, the letters were printed. You could read them with glasses or if you just squinted. They had taken a regular book with large fonts, and given it to a book-shrinking savant. The savant made a tiny-sized version, verbatim--It could fit in your pocket or backpack, no problem!

Impressed as I was, the true test came later, as I needed a rhyme while writing a paper. My last written word was "poliomyelitis" as part of a poem on that special virus. I opened this book and looked up the word. I found so many -itis-like words it's absurd:

Auritis, ascitis, asthmatic bronchitis,
avian infectious encephalomyelitis,

antritis, amitis, and arthrochondritis,
acute haemorrhagic glomerulonephritis,

allergic angiitis, alcoholic hepatitis,
Wait, what kind of disease is an "Anthony Kiedis?"

Aviation otitis, arachnoiditis,
aseptic bursitis, ascending neuritis,

aspirin-induced asthma/rhinitis,
and autoimmune-borne thyroiditis.

...and that just a small piece of the A-words.

It seems to have decent rhymes but the size is not easy to use. It is too thick for it's page size, however it is printed on decent paper.

The compact paperback rhyming dictionary is arranged by word endings so you can have lots of fun with it in the style of Lewis Carroll. If you're so inclined, you can put nonsense words that tickle your fancy into your poetry and have hours of entertainment.

I have had this little helper for years and recently gave it to two friends who also write a great deal of poetry. They have found it VERY helpful also.

I found this compact rhyming dictionary to be very helpful writing poetry. It took a little getting used to, but as I became familiar with it I now find this volume indispensable. Along with my Oxford dictionary I have a dynamic duo.