As a purchaser of Webster's New World Dictionary, Second College Edition published in 1972, I have used this dictionary for nearly 40 years. But as all things do, it's bindings have become compromised with age, and it is beginning to come apart. I've been nursing it along for the past few years mainly because I appreciate the editorial craftsmanship that went into its composition, chiefly the etymological history of the derivation of the words it defines. No other dictionary that I have scanned in recent years (save perhaps the Oxford English Dictionary) seems to go the extra mile when it comes to the preservation of the accuracy of the etymology. The Random House and Merriam Webster dictionaries I have looked at are woefully deficient in this area. I was therefore not looking forward to having to replacing this dictionary with a freshly published book.
When I came across the availability of the Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition (book with CD-ROM) on Amazon, I jumped at the chance to own it, hoping, sight unseen, that it retained the excellence of editorial craftsmanship that my older volume preserved. To my delight and surprise, it did! Not only that, but the addition of the Reference Supplement in the back is packed with interesting and useful information for quick reference.
That this edition has retained the editorial vision and integrity of the first volumes published under the editorship of David B. Guralnik and Joseph H. Friend is a testament to the integrity of the publisher to retain the initial editorial vision for the volume and to carry it forward into future editions.
The addition of the CD-ROM only adds to the usefulness of this dictionary, as now I can easily look up anything while at my computer without having to turn one page of the hardcopy volume if I so choose. Having this dictionary available at the click of a mouse is an added feature and time-saving benefit.
Not everyone appreciates having the etymology of words documented. But as a former English major in college and a writer, I find this distinction to be useful in being able to determine the context of how words were first used and how that usage has changed over time. People tend to forget the original meaning of words and the significance that they can have on contemporary meanings and connotations, thereby losing insight into their original usage in the past. This can be especially crucial when endeavoring to determine, for instance, the legal meaning or definition of a word, and how the perception of a word's meaning can change over time.
I am thoroughly pleased with this most recent edition of the Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition that it is highly recommended to anyone considering it or in search of a replacement dictionary for their personal use. You truly won't regret owning this dictionary.
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There is a newer edition of this item:
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition
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Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$38.21
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Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
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