# The Best (English) Dictionary? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-english-dictionary/307150 "2005-06-06T16:46:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-english-dictionary/307150/1 "2005-06-06T16:46:24Z")
I want to treat myself to a great dictionary. One with large printing, an unabridged one, with word origins. Which do you recommend? Is the Oxford Dictionary of the English Language no longer available in multi-volume dead-tree form? Amazon does not have it. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-english-dictionary/307150/2 "2005-06-06T17:03:28Z")
It seems to be available directly from [Oxford University Press.](http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Reference/EnglishDictionaries/?pr=10&pf=0&ss=title.asc&sf=featured&sd=asc&view=usa&ci=0198611862) I’d love to own one myself, but $1500 is a bit steep. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-english-dictionary/307150/3 "2005-06-06T17:11:59Z")
Yikes (exclamation) An expression of unpleasant surprise. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-english-dictionary/307150/4 "2005-06-06T17:55:29Z")
Next to the Oxford, the best dictionary is The American Heritage with its listing of Indo-European roots. At $40 from [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com), it’s a good bargain. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-english-dictionary/307150/5 "2005-06-06T19:01:01Z")
The [Shorter Oxford Dictionary](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0198604572/103-6912166-0721437?v=glance) is a good option if the reality of the unabridged version has surprised you. 2 volumes, 4000 pages, 100k definitions. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-english-dictionary/307150/6 "2005-06-06T19:02:39Z")
On re-reading, I notice it _had_ surprised you 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-english-dictionary/307150/7 "2005-06-07T10:57:09Z")
Oh not this one? [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0877796262/qid=1118142420/sr=8-1/ref=pd\_csp\_1/002-7846337-1136031?v=glance&s=books&n=507846](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0877796262/qid=1118142420/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/002-7846337-1136031?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) This dictionary is the Number One, Best Seller! Among those written by a cartoon cat! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-english-dictionary/307150/8 "2005-06-07T12:01:57Z")
We use the Random House unabridged at the puzzle factory.