Looking for dictionary recommedations

JWillard · 12 Jun 2006, 03:02 · from 2006-June.txt.gz

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From: aldenweer at charter.net (JWillard)
Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2006 22:02:00 -0500
Subject: (urth) Looking for dictionary recommedations
In-Reply-To: <20060612013232.77697.qmail at web36811.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
References: <20060612013232.77697.qmail at web36811.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Message-ID: <448CD928.4000501 at charter.net>

Kate Savage wrote:

> I am looking for dictionary recommendations. I would like to purchase 
> a good reference book for all those obscure word's Wolfe use that I 
> have never seen before. I am thinking if getting a used copy of the 
> Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary but it isn't the 
> handiest format for casually looking up unfamiliar words. I am also 
> thinking of the Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged.
>  
> Any other suggestions?
>  
> Thanks in advance.
>
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Wolfe, from p. 250 of Castle of Days:  "The best dictionary I have found 
is The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary.  I also 
recommend a small book called The New York Times Everyday Reader's 
Dictionary of Misunderstood, Misused, Mispronounced Words... A good desk 
dictionary, such as the American Heritage, is always of value.  So is a 
good Latin-English dictionary.
Be warned that anybody can call a dictionary Webster's - there's no 
copyright on that name.  The real McCoy...is Merriam-Webster's 
unabridged, but the current (third) edition has fallen among the 
flakes;  you can get better value for your money by buying the Random 
House..."

OED and W2 are my favorites, but they're both unwieldy.  (Good exercise, 
though!)

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