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Title: Chambers Dictionary of Etymology by Barnhart ISBN: 0-550-14230-4 Publisher: Chambers Pub. Date: 15 September, 1999 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $45.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 (5 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Good, but not quite as detailed as Oxford version
Comment: I had the chance to compare the Chambers Dictionary of Etymology with the Oxford Dictionary of Etymology, and I have to say that although both books are way ahead of the competition, for me, the Oxford seemed to go into greater depth.
Admittedly, I did not have the time to compare a lot of entries, but the few words I did look up showed a pattern that was hard to dismiss. In all of the cases that I saw, the Oxford dictionary included much more of the history of the word and often went back to the Latin root as well as proposing possible alternate developments of the word. The Chambers dictionary, on the other hand, tended to trace a more linear path and often only went as far back as the Old English or Old French root.
While the Chambers Dictionary of Etymology is a very clear and concise work, I feel the Oxford Dictionary of Etymology has a slight advantage in precision and depth. I must add that although the Oxford beats out the Chambers dictionary in regard to etymology, Chambers has the advantage when it comes to quotations. I find that the Chambers Dictionary of Quotations is better than Oxford's equivalent work.
Rating: 5
Summary: Wonderful reference and great value!
Comment: This volume is a "must-have" for readers, scholars, and absolutely any person interested in words and their origins/history. The book is rather heavy and thick but is otherwise extremely user-friendly and a great "browser" as well as an essential companion to any ordinary dictionary.
I should note that this edition, although a British re-publication of its famous US version, retains American spelling and keeps its focus on American sources while utilizing the best of all English references, regardless of country of origin.
Regarding physical quality, the book has a signature-sewn binding, meaning that it is not merely held together by glue but that its pages are actually sewn with real thread... quite a treat in today's disposable society. Thus, with reasonable care, this tome should last a lifetime and beyond!
Rating: 5
Summary: Superb!
Comment: This reference views the English language from an American perspective (as opposed to the classic OED) and presents its 25,000-30,000 entries accordingly.
The book is a supreme value and you can't go wrong. This is one for scholars and browsers alike.
I recommend this book in the highest possible sense.
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Title: Dictionary of Word Origins: Histories of More Than 8,000 English-Language Words by John Ayto ISBN: 1559702141 Publisher: Arcade Books Pub. Date: 23 November, 1993 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology by Charles T. Onions ISBN: 0198611129 Publisher: Oxford Press Pub. Date: July, 1983 List Price(USD): $75.00 |
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Title: Word Origins : An Exploration and History of Words and Language by Wilfred Funk ISBN: 0517265745 Publisher: Random House Value Pub Pub. Date: 11 August, 1992 List Price(USD): $11.99 |
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Title: The Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories by Merriam-Webster ISBN: 0877796033 Publisher: Merriam-Webster, Inc. Pub. Date: January, 1995 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
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Title: The Origins of English Words: A Discursive Dictionary of Indo-European Roots by Joseph Twadell Shipley ISBN: 0801867843 Publisher: Johns Hopkins Univ Pr Pub. Date: September, 2001 List Price(USD): $29.00 |
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