Third New International Dictionary of the English Language | Webster's

Third New International Dictionary of the English Language | Webster's | It's surprising that the sound / pronunciation is missing and the CD-ROM is an Old version

books:

Third New Internat...

	Third New International Dictionary of the English Language Webster's Merriam-Webster, 2002 - 2816 pages average customer review:based on 76 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged, is the largest, most comprehensive American dictionary available, containing over 472,000 entries, 14,000 new words in a special Addenda Section, 3,000 illustrations, and 140,000 etymologies describing word origins. Boxed hardcover, buckram binding, thumb-notched.

Inevitable Comparison

I see there are 72 reviews of this dictionary (Sep. '08) and some of them are quite good. And the reviewers inevitably compare the WTNID to OED. Sure, both are coveted reference volumes (OED is 20 volumes) beautifully fit into your computer's hard drive. What a practicality! --except OED on your book shelf bestows upon you an aura of unique scholarship and seriousness on language James Joyce would have been jealous! Just kidding!

What are the differences between the two great reference books?

Let's see:

1) OED is $295 2nd Ed. 3.0 CD ROM vs WTNID is roughly $45 at Amazon.

2) OED is first and foremost an English Language Dictionary vs WTNID is an American Language Dictionary

Below is the most important difference; if you do not appreciate this point you must read up a bit more on the philosophy of language and semantics (meaning and the interpretation of words), etc.,

3) OED is a PRESCRIPTIVE dictionary vs WNTID is a DESCRIPTIVE dictionary.

What is that mean?

Suffice to say the prescriptive and descriptive are self explanatory words but if I had to expatiate on this point I would say:

OED will say this is how it should be! WTNID will say this is how it's nowadays and discard the judgement about it.

I hope this delineates the basic differences.

for more information click here

It's surprising that the sound / pronunciation is missing and the CD-ROM is an Old version

We are surprised that the CD-ROM that comes with this dictionary is an old version. Also, it is highly desirable that there should be sound available in the CD-ROM so that kids can learn correct pronunciation. Also, isn't it the time that Merriam Websters publishes a new edition for this as this version is already too old?

Any one from Merriam Webster's customer services watches these comments to address them?

Other than these short comings, I highly recommend this dictionary - as it is single source for most of the words that one comes across.

Arun

for more information click here

Good Dictionary, Outdated CD Rom

The dictionary is the authoritative text for American English. The CD ROM, however was outdated and did not run on Windows XP--thus worthless to me.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

products you might be interested in