What is a moonbow? What does it mean when someone absquatulates? Over 400 words to amaze, confuse and inspiring budding wordsmiths (and adults!).

How did a single genre of text have the power to standardise the English language across time and region, rival the Bible in notions of authority, and challenge our understanding of objectivity, prescription, and description? Since the first monolingual dictionary appeared in 1604, the genre has sparked evolution, innovation, devotion, plagiarism, and controversy. This comprehensive volume presents an overview of essential issues pertaining to dictionary style and content and a fresh narrative of the development of English dictionaries throughout the centuries. Essays on the regional and global nature of English lexicography (dictionary making) explore its power in standardising varieties of English and defining nations seeking independence from the British Empire: from Canada to the Caribbean. Leading scholars and lexicographers historically contextualise an array of dictionaries and pose urgent theoretical and methodological questions relating to their role as tools of standardisation, prestige, power, education, literacy, and national identity.

"We visit the ugly corrugated iron structure that Murray grandly dubbed the Scriptorium -- the Scrippy or the Shed, as locals called it -- and meet some of the legion of volunteers, from Fitzedward Hall, a bitter hermit obsessively devoted to the OED, to W.C. Minor, whose story is one of dangerous madness, ineluctable sadness, and ultimate redemption. The Meaning of Everything is a scintillating account of the creation of the greatest monument ever erected to a living language. Simon Winchester's supple, vigorous prose illuminates this dauntingly ambitious project -- a seventy-year odyssey to create the grandfather of all word-books, the world's unrivaled uber-dictionary. Book jacket."--Jacket.

The first English dictionary, this lexicographic milestone reflects Elizabethan ideas & tastes.

"The Evolution of English Lexicography" by way of James A. H. Murray is a complete take a look at that strains the development and history of English dictionaries and lexicography. Murray's paintings offer a meticulous exam of the evolution of lexicography from its early beginnings to the sophisticated dictionaries of the nineteenth century. In this seminal paintings, Murray analyzes the contributions of top notch lexicographers, the evolution of dictionary-making techniques, and the cultural and linguistic influences which have shaped the English lexicon. Murray's understanding as a lexicographer and philologist shines thru as he delves into the intricacies of compiling dictionaries and defining the nuances of the English language. Through certain research and scholarly insights, Murray offers a profound exploration of the demanding situations and advancements in lexicography over centuries. He highlights the significance of dictionaries in retaining language, documenting ancient utilization, and serving as worthwhile tools for students, writers, and language fans. "The Evolution of English Lexicography" stands as a seminal painting inside the area, showcasing Murray's know-how and passion for language observe. Murray's insightful evaluation and meticulous studies make this book a precious aid for all and sundry inquisitive about the history of English dictionaries and the evolution of lexicography as a scholarly subject.

Over 25 years ago, Raymond Williams’ Keywords: A Vocabulary of Culture and Society set the standard for how we understand and use the language of culture and society. Now, three luminaries in the field of cultural studies have assembled a volume that builds on and updates Williams’ classic, reflecting the transformation in culture and society since its publication. New Keywords: A Revised Vocabulary of Culture and Society is a state-of-the-art reference for students, teachers and culture vultures everywhere. Assembles a stellar team of internationally renowned and interdisciplinary social thinkers and theorists Showcases 142 signed entries – from art, commodity, and fundamentalism to youth, utopia, the virtual, and the West – that capture the practices, institutions, and debates of contemporary society Builds on and updates Raymond Williams’s classic Keywords: A Vocabulary of Culture and Society, by reflecting the transformation in culture and society over the last 25 years Includes a bibliographic resource to guide research and cross-referencing The book is supported by a website: www.blackwellpublishing.com/newkeywords.