# big dictionary questions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-dictionary-questions/166030>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 2, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-dictionary-questions/166030 "2003-04-02T19:38:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-dictionary-questions/166030/1 "2003-04-02T19:38:46Z")

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Ok,  
it’s time to replace the home dictionary (World book encyclopedia copyright 1963, a little out of date), I am looking for suggestions.

Unclviny

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-dictionary-questions/166030/2 "2003-04-02T19:41:03Z")

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Here at the puzzle factory, every editor has a copy of the Random House unabridged on his or her desk.

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-dictionary-questions/166030/3 "2003-04-02T20:13:27Z")

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If you can afford it, get the Oxford English Dictionary. Overkill, I know, but it is an amazing resouce.

The American Heritage Dictionary used to be the best desk dictionary, as long as you got the edition with the PIE roots in the appendix. Not sure if it’s still available, though.

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-dictionary-questions/166030/4 "2003-04-02T20:30:28Z")

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I’m pretty sure the _American Heritage_ 4th ed. has the Indo-European appendix, **Chuck**.

Be aware, **unclviny** , that while the above recommendation for an \*OED[/] is excellent advice, the _OED_ is not a average user’s dictionary. It is a serious historical-research dictionary designed to be authoritative and exhaustive not to be easy to use.

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**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-dictionary-questions/166030/5 "2003-04-02T20:40:22Z")

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Here at the book factory we use Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.

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**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-dictionary-questions/166030/6 "2003-04-02T22:25:00Z")

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I have the AHD that **RealityChuck** mentioned, and I’d recommend it highly. If you do go out shopping for it, thought, be sure that when come back, bring PIE.