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This fully updated edition offers over 120,000 words, phrases, and definitions. It covers all the words you need for everyday use, carefully selected from the evidence of the Oxford English Corpus, a databank of 21st century English, containing over 2 billion words.The Factfinder centre section gives quick-reference entries on topics including famous people, countries, and science.
Chapter 1: The Birth of the OED
* Chronicles the origins and early development of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).
* Describes the founding committee, led by James Murray, and the ambitious goal: to create a comprehensive and historical record of the English language.
* Example: Discusses the inclusion of obsolete and archaic words, such as "abet" (to instigate), demonstrating the dictionary's commitment to preserving the history of language.
Chapter 2: The Scriptorium
* Explores the physical and organizational structure of the Scriptorium, where the OED was compiled.
* Highlights the unique system of slips containing word quotations, which were meticulously collected and sorted.
* Example: Describes the role of "readers," who scoured books and periodicals for illustrative examples, such as a 16th-century quotation from William Shakespeare: "If you prick us, do we not bleed?"
Chapter 3: The First Edition
* Details the challenges and triumphs of compiling and publishing the first edition of the OED, which took over 50 years to complete (1884-1928).
* Discusses editorial decisions, including the selection of headwords and the inclusion of multiple word meanings.
* Example: Examines the word "board," which has over 50 different meanings ranging from "a flat piece of wood" to "a meeting of directors."
Chapter 4: The Supplement and the Second Edition
* Describes the ongoing process of updating and revising the OED, including the publication of the Supplement (1933) and the Second Edition (1989).
* Explains the challenges of accommodating new words and changes in language usage.
* Example: Discusses the addition of "google" and "web" to the OED, reflecting the technological advancements of the modern era.
Chapter 5: The Electronic OED
* Explores the transition of the OED to a digital format in the late 20th century.
* Highlights the advantages of electronic searching and access, as well as the preservation and dissemination of the dictionary's vast content.
* Example: Demonstrates the use of the OED online to trace the historical usage of words and phrases, such as "rule of thumb."
Chapter 6: The Global OED
* Discusses the international influence and impact of the OED.
* Examines the adoption of the OED as a standard reference work in countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
* Example: Highlights the contributions of non-British scholars to the OED, such as the inclusion of Australian slang and Americanisms.
Chapter 7: The OED in the 21st Century
* Looks ahead to the future of the OED in an era of rapid linguistic change.
* Explores the ongoing challenges and opportunities for maintaining and expanding the dictionary's scope.
* Example: Discusses the potential impact of social media and online communication on language usage, and the OED's role in documenting these developments.
