What is Dictionary ?

Although many scholars consider the OED to be the definitive authority on dictionaries, the OED needs your help. At any given time, the dictionary's editors are researching the history of certain words and phrases.

The OED Appeals allows the public to submit evidence (via the comments section) of the earliest record of certain words. Camouflage and Arnold Palmer are two entries that the OED has recently researched, so if you have old books or magazines that mention some weird word, let the OED know. You might just see your contribution in the dictionary's next edition.

9. SAMPLE SENTENCES FROM DICTIONARIES CAN MAKE INTERESTING SHORT STORIES.

You might think that all those sample sentences in the dictionary are random, but you'd only be partially right.

The phrases are deliberately chosen to show the word in a clear context with other words that it's often associated with, and are ideally so boring that you don't even think twice about them. Illustrator Jez Burrows has connected these random sentences from the New Oxford American Dictionary into short stories.

"Often I’ll find at least one [word] that makes a good jumping-off point and I’ll start to flesh out some sort of vague narrative, then work backwards to imagine what sort of words might give rise to the sentences I'm looking for," Burrows said of his process.

10. A LOT OF WEIRD DICTIONARIES EXIST.

11. URBAN DICTIONARY CAPITALIZES OFF OF BEING A SLANG HAVEN.

Urban Dictionary, the online, crowdsourced listing of millions of slang words and phrases, is beloved by middle schoolers and anyone trying to understand the latest slang terms.

But Urban Dictionary is more than a dictionary. It also has an online store that sells mugs, T-shirts, an official card game, and plush dolls inspired by dirty phrases that the dictionary has helped to popularize (like Golden Shower and Donkey Punch).

If you're unfamiliar with the definitions of those disgusting phrases, we'll let you look them up, but don’t say we didn't warn you.

12. A CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DISTRICT CONSIDERED BANNING MERRIAM-WEBSTER'S COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY.

In 2010, a school district in Southern California temporarily removed all copies of the Merriam-Webster 10th Collegiate Edition from elementary school classrooms. Why remove the dictionary?

After a parent told the principal of Oak Meadows Elementary School that the dictionary contained an explicit definition of a sex act, the school district decided to remove the books.

A committee of teachers, administrators, and parents decided that the dictionary was age-appropriate, and the copies of Merriam-Webster were returned to the classroom. Here's hoping that parent never discovers Urban Dictionary!

It seems ironic to be defining the term 'dictionary,' but here we go! Dictionaries are resources for finding word meanings, parts of speech, word origins and even synonyms and antonyms. Dictionaries have definitely evolved over the years.

The English language really began with the Anglo-Saxons in Great Britain. The Norse invasion that followed highly influenced the English language as well, but the language didn't stabilize until the latter part of the Medieval period with much more writing.

A dictionary is essential for finding word meanings, and it has other helpful uses as well. In this lesson, we will explore the history of the dictionary and find out how to use one effectively.

It seems ironic to be defining the term 'dictionary,' but here we go! Dictionaries are resources for finding word meanings, parts of speech, word origins and even synonyms and antonyms.

Dictionaries have definitely evolved over the years.

Clearly, our language contains French, Greek, Latin and Germanic roots, as well as influences from Hebrew and other languages.

In fact, one of the most difficult parts of being an English language learner is this mishmash of roots and rules.

The English language really began with the Anglo-Saxons in Great Britain. The Norse invasion that followed highly influenced the English language as well, but the language didn't stabilize until the latter part of the Medieval period with much more writing

During the years 1500-1650, it is estimated that the number of known English words doubled.

Clearly, our language contains French, Greek, Latin and Germanic roots, as well as influences from Hebrew and other languages. In fact, one of the most difficult parts of being an English language learner is this mishmash of roots and rules.