Frequently Asked Questions
Dictionaries
How have dictionaries changed over the years? |
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The very earliest dictionaries of English were actually glossaries that translated Latin words into Old English, the form of English spoken before about 1100 A.D. The monolingual dictionary (one that lists English words and gives definitions in English) didn't appear until 1600 - so Shakespeare did much of his work without even the possibility of looking things up! For the first century or so, these dictionaries only defined 'hard words'. It wasn't until the 18th century that dictionaries grew and included most meanings of even common words; during that century most of the features we associate with dictionaries first appeared, such as pronunciations, etymologies, and parts of speech. In the nineteenth century dictionaries of English began to attempt to cover the whole vocabulary.
Large collections of examples of word usage were built up and used as the basis for the dictionary. In the twentieth century dictionaries became yet more inclusive, covering slang, technical, and regional language not previously admitted. Dictionaries for different purposes and groups (for example pocket dictionaries and foreign learners' dictionaries) began to appear. With the advent of the computer it became possible to use computer databases as the source of language evidence alongside, or instead of, examples on file cards, and eventually to publish dictionaries electronically, on CD-ROM and online.
Other questions in this section: What is a dictionary?
What are people referring to when they talk about the 'Oxford Dictionary'?
Are dictionaries always in alphabetical order?
Are dictionaries really necessary?
Are lexicographers good spellers?
Are other languages besides English recorded in huge multi-volume dictionaries?
Do dictionary-makers ever make mistakes?
Do you include words used on the Internet?
How can I access OED Online?
How do you decide if a new word should go in an Oxford dictionary?
How do you decide what to include in a dictionary?
How do you know what a word means?
How has computer technology affected dictionary-making?
How have dictionaries changed over the years?
How will a dictionary look in 2050?
How will revision affect the size of the OED?
Is there an official committee which regulates the English language?
What skills and talents does a lexicographer need?
When will the Third Edition of the OED be published?
Will you put the word I have invented into the dictionary?
If, after browsing the FAQs, you still can't find the answer to your question then submit your query to the AskOxford Language Query team.
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