Customer Reviews

Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language

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As a graduate student on a budget, this dictionary is a godsend. It contains the level of description that is needed for academic writing with all of the extras that make good dictionaries fun, such as brief etymological notes and small illustrations. The style manual, list of US Presidents and Vice Presidents, and reproduced patriotic documents is a cute touch.

In this age of extensive web based dictionaries, some overlook the importance of a tangible, paper resource. Thumbing through this dictionary reminds you of why the web can never fully replace paper documents; the discovery of words in the context of the language as a whole. If you are a serious scholar, high school, college, or graduate/professional student, or are looking for a dictionary for one, this is an excellent choice.

Sometimes the greatest works of literature don't have plots, characters, technical climaxes, action of any kind, settings, or dialogue. There are no great scenes, no credited authors, and rising actions. How does one read a book without a plot? one might ask. Among English literature there are masses of unregarded books lacking characters and dialogue, though rich in knowledge and beauty of their own. These books I refer to are dictionaries, and standing supreme of all dictionaries is Webster's Unabridged Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language (Random House Value Publishers, 1996).

It's the book to end all books, a worthwhile diversion for those days when boredom threatens to overwhelm. Upon almost every page sit pictures, visual attractors for those people out there who complain that they can't read books without pictures. Next to the pictures, surrounding the pictures, expounding upon the pictures are the definitions, some like little stories and some information and more. You can read about far-off and exotic locations, historical and mythological figures, slang terms, etymology, and sundry nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, interjections, pronouns, etc. In the beginning of the book is a comprehensive list of all the American presidents, their wives, their religions, their running mates and complete copies of the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution including the amendments. At the end is a list of important people the world over, so that you know how to correctly address the Chief Justice of Canada and his or her mailing address in case you ever have the urge to write. What a book! Where else would one find out that pelite is any clayey rock like mudstone or shale, or even that clayey is a real adjective? How else would one know that grumphie is a Scottish word that is a familiar name for a pig? For most people there would be no other way. The wealth of knowledge contained within these few thousand pages is more than one person alone could learn in a lifetime and a half.

Not all definitions are created alike, however. Many different authors submit to the dictionary, and it's obvious that some of these people aren't as careful and concerned as others. Some definitions aren't very helpful, like knowing that mouse deer is chevrotain, without being told what part of speech is. Or looking up radiancy and being told that it means radiance. Let's use the word to define itself; that's a good idea. The dictionary can be of wonderful use in compositions, though they must be used wisely. Writing, "Pleonasm: the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea" isn't a good idea, for it shows that you know only how to look up the word and copy its definition, and not that you might actually know what it means and how to use it. And even if you're not writing a paper, the dictionary is fun to peruse. Most of the definitions make me laugh-English can be a very versatile and humorous language, if you know how to use it. Long live Webster, king of the dictionary-makers!

Whether you are looking to add to your collection or simply seeking a great dictionary at an affordable price, the Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary is the one English language dictionary that everyone who reads, writes or loves words should own a copy of. It is among the most prized and by far most utilized dictionary of my own collection, never far from arms reach when I am writing.

This book at five times the price would be a worthwhile investment. Priced as it is, there can be no reason for not owning at least one copy of such a wonderful dictionary. My only suggestion, invest it in a good book stand. It will save both the book and your biceps.

I'm the sort of person who will actually sit down and read dictionaries - I can really get lost in them. I loved this dictionary; it was great to use. However, the binding was really, really crummy. Within a year, the covers had started to tear off. Now it is missing both front and back covers, and I'm in the market for a new dictionary again. I realize it is difficult to make a binding that can hold up to use on a book of this size (it's huge and heavy), but if they couldn't do any better, they should have made it more than one volume. Now I am wary of large, single-volume dictionaries. I hope they do a better job in future.

I first bought this dictionary to play scrabble. If you play, you know that drawing the letter "Q" makes the game difficult because most often you also need a "U." A few words exist that do not require the "qu" combination such as qat, qaid, qiyas or qirsh. Rare is the dictionary that has these words to offer when the player is challenged. Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary stands the test.

I came to use it a great deal for words unknown to my computer's spell checker, while I wrote my master thesis. I still use it today as editor of the local historical magazine. For the holidays I am giving one to my smart step-daughter, and for purely selfish reasons: I am donating a copy to the local Historical Society -- so that I may use it there -- and I will offer my wife her very own Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary -- so that I will no longer have to look for mine in her office! One of my professors said: "learning new words is the only way to increase one's I.Q." I do not know if it is true, but it can't hurt to try.

I have the 1989 edition and it is by far the best reference book I've owned. My undergrad degree is in English, so I've used my share of dictionaries over the years. I can't imagine not having this great book nearby. I use it for everything, including the foreign language translation section, the maps, the crossword dictionary, etc. - it's chock full of useless but interesting informaiton. More than most will ever need. But you never know.

My only beef - I agree with the reviewer who said that the binding sucks. Mine is held together with duct tape. I guess it's time to get a new one.

Now, that I own the book, I have to praise it. I am not a native English speaker and this book contains not only all the words you find in any dictionary, but also technical terms; "designer" words such as Muzak, Miranda; plant names (English and Latin); chemical compounds with formula and structure; a little history information: in short - everything that you need, when you work in a laboratory and read a lot of English texts, and everything you need, when you sit at home and read English/American novels. I wish there was an equivalent of this in German (sometimes the Webster information exceeds my 20 volume german encyclopedia with respect to technical, geographical, historical data). If you don't have it yet and you are not a native speaker and you like to or have to read English texts a lot - then go and get it.

It is a good dictionary. Reads well, great info. I am on my 2nd and need my 3rd because of the covers and bindings. It calls itself a hardcover book, but the binding is weaker than on a paperback. And like a paper back the covers tear off with use.
It might stand up if I had a proper stand for it.

I have been using this dictionary for a few years now; I particularly appreciate the quality and breadth of information available - truly an encyclopedic dictionary, with an excellent coverage of both American English and British English.The various standards are well represented from slang to formal, and classical culture,world literature, history and geography are well served too. Such quality at such a price is almost unthinkable, and I recommend this title without any reservations to my students at the French Military Academy. I was fortunate to buy an earlier edition at an American PX in Germany (it also included a superb Atlas, not available in the more recent edition it seems) and was delighted to find this excellent title available through amazon. In a French bookshop it costs around $ 80 so you are definitely competitive !

We are satisfied with this dictionary. It seems to have everything we need. It is "exhaustive." I am particularly interested in word origins and am satisfied with the entries in this edition. It is very large and we are looking for an appropriate book stand to protect it. The binding needed some reinforcement with glue when we received it, but that was easily remedied.