Webster's Dictionary Question?????

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Monet

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I used to know the ?? Webster's dictionary (number) that had the dates showing when each word first came into use.

Does anyone know the full name of this dictionary?

I finding that my historical novel has too many 'current' language words in it.
 
alleycat

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There may be others as well, but the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary has that feature.
 

Jamesaritchie

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Date

The date often isn't enough because usage can change drastically. If you can, get your hand on the OED, and subscribe to the online version.
 
alleycat

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They also have a nice online dictionary . . . the only problem is I've seen that site hijacked and then it will try to download viruses. I haven't used it lately; I'm not sure how safe it is now. It's a shame that I hate to use it.
 

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Skip the dates in Websters' it's not to be trusted.

Go with the OED and double check even it, if it's a word used before 1660.

Your public library probably has the printed version and a subscription to the online; it's not really priced for individuals unless you've got spare cash just lying around :D
 

Jamesaritchie

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Medievalist said:
Skip the dates in Websters' it's not to be trusted.

Go with the OED and double check even it, if it's a word used before 1660.

Your public library probably has the printed version and a subscription to the online; it's not really priced for individuals unless you've got spare cash just lying around :D
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It's not that expensive. Thirty bucks per month is about what one hardback novel costs. It's two family outings to a fast food joint. It's about one third of most people's cable bill. Hardly priced out of the average individual's price range.

The OED on CD-ROM is $295, and cheap for what you're getting. I know several people way under average income who paid more than this for a cell phone just because it was extra thin.
 

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Jamesaritchie said:
It's not that expensive. Thirty bucks per month is about what one hardback novel costs. It's two family outings to a fast food joint. It's about one third of most people's cable bill. Hardly priced out of the average individual's price range.

The OED on CD-ROM is $295, and cheap for what you're getting. I know several people way under average income who paid more than this for a cell phone just because it was extra thin.
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Oh, I definitely think it's worth it, but individual budgets vary.

Don't buy the current CD-ROM; there's a bunch of words missing data through a database error. The corrected version is going to be pressed in September, so I'd wait until say October, were it me.
 
MidnightMuse

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Dang. I can make words up for cheaper than that :D

All the words you want. I'll even put dates on 'em!
 
alleycat

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MidnightMuse said:
Dang. I can make words up for cheaper than that

All the words you want. I'll even put dates on 'em!
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Yeah . . . but they'd be in toad.
 

Jamesaritchie

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MidnightMuse said:
Dang. I can make words up for cheaper than that :D

All the words you want. I'll even put dates on 'em!
Click to expand...

Yeah, but how accurate will they be?

It always amazes me when people pay three hundred for a cell phone, or spend from eight to to twelve hundred over the course of a year for cable, or pay four hundred for the latest game station, but balk over the price of a book.

There's something seriously screwed up about our priorities when this is the case.
 
MidnightMuse

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Oh trust me, they'd be completely inaccurate!

Actually I keep several dictionaries close by, two at work and three at home. I've just never considered buying a computerized version before - I like thumbing through them (and let's face it, I enjoy keeping one in the bathroom . . . why waste good learnin' time, I say!)
 
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Jamesaritchie said:
It's not that expensive. Thirty bucks per month is about what one hardback novel costs. It's two family outings to a fast food joint. It's about one third of most people's cable bill. Hardly priced out of the average individual's price range.
Click to expand...

That's like three cases of my beer! And it's three outtings for the family to our favorite custard stand.

Not worth the sacrifice. I'll stick with my Webster's.
 

Jamesaritchie

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OED

Shadow_Ferret said:
That's like three cases of my beer! And it's three outtings for the family to our favorite custard stand.

Not worth the sacrifice. I'll stick with my Webster's.
Click to expand...

The OED is always worth it for a writer.
 
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