Webster's New World Dictionary of American English/College Edition - Hardcover

Neufeldt, Victoria

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0671882899 ISBN 13: 9780671882891

Publisher: Macmillan General Reference

Synopsis

Nearly 80 million desks and bookshelves worldwide boast a member of the distinguished family of Webster's New World dictionaries. From the New York Times to the Los Angeles Times, most major newspapers have adopted the College Edition as their standard first-reference resource. So have the Associated Press and United Press International. The professionals know that when you need to get the words rights the first time, every time, you need Webster's New World Dictionary.
But this is much more than the most useful, readable, and accurate desk dictionary you can find. Ever since the first edition was published more than forty years ago, the Webster's New World staff has been dedicated to presenting the English language not merely as it is but also as it has evolved. In these pages you will find more up-to-date, in-depth etymologies than in any other American dictionary, tracing our current vocabulary back to its rich and varied sources. Definitions are presented in modified historical order, illuminating the process by which the language grows and changes. More than 11,000 Americanisms are clearly marked, illustrating the astonishing inventiveness of our diverse culture. Every entry offers new and fascinating perspectives on the language that we share, because the Webster's New World Dictionary has always sought to record the English language, not restrict it.
Webster's New World Dictionary is a precise reference tool carefully created to meet the needs of the most demanding user. Definitions are accurately written to convey the most up-to-date information in a user-friendly, easily understood style. Commonly used foreign expressions that should be italicized are clearly identified; and an innovative feature is a syllabification system that distinguishes between preferred word breaks for line-end hyphenation and possible but less desirable breaks. In this updated edition, new entries map the frontiers of English in an era of unparalleled diversity and rapid development, while more than 150,000 entries ensure that you'll find the word you're looking for...and a great deal more.
In today's information age, in which clarity of expression and understanding are at a premium, and the ability to communicate crisply and accurately becomes more important every day, a high-quality desk dictionary is absolutely essential. Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, is such a dictionary.

About this title

From Booklist:

This update of the third edition, last reviewed here [RBB Mr 1 89], continues the New World tradition of currency with a special emphasis on American colloquialisms and slang as well as words, senses, forms of words, and idioms that are American in origin. Words that are American in origin are preceded by a star. The 1994 update includes 150,000 entries (200 of them new to this edition), more than 11,000 Americanisms, and many new senses for older terms. Population data have been updated to reflect the 1990 census, biographical entries have been updated to reflect deaths and new accomplishments, and geographic entries have been revised to reflect political upheaval. All areas of life have been surveyed, with additions ranging from the fields of politics (e.g., perestroika has been added) and science and technology (virtual reality), to slang (wuss) and social science (African-American). Some new words found in other dictionaries are not here: for example, herstory and checkbook journalism are in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, tenth edition, and karaoke and wallyball appear in the newly revised Random House Unabridged Dictionary.

With its emphasis on Americanisms, this dictionary continues to make a unique contribution to any dictionary collection, and libraries that own the 1988 edition will benefit from purchase of this updated version.

About this edition

• Publisher: Macmillan General Reference
• ISBN 10: 0671882899
• ISBN 13: 9780671882891
• Binding: Hardcover
• Editor: Guralnik David B.