Dictionary Reviews

This is one book that is needed on everyones shelf. Truly an entertaining and creative read. Great gift for that hard to buy for person. I was unable to put it down this summer until I realized I was getting a sunburn! Looking forward to a sequel.

This book is an excellent source for classrooms, from English to History to Science. The stories of words is fascinating and a part of our culture. Students find the information interesting and they end up learning along the way. Ms. Lee's presentation style keeps the reader engaged, so they want to keep reading. My students end up talking about what they learned from her book, and look forward to my posting the next story each day. I also enjoy the book on my own as a source of entertainment as well as knowledge. Her writing style is fun and she has obviously done her research. I look forward to her next book.

I met Laura Lee in Michigan when she was doing radio. I knew then that she was going to do great things. She has a great mind for trivia and facts and of course, music. Love her...loved her book. In fact, later I'm ordering 2 more copies.

The New Bible Dictionary first appeared in 1962. It is one of many great books that was written, to a large degree, in Tyndale House, Cambridge. It has been updated several times to include new discoveries and to improve the already terrific original dictionary. The scholars who wrote the articles are some of the best-known, most-respected evangelical scholars today.

Highly recommended.

If you would like this book and 17 other helpful books, including the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, Sinclair Ferguson's New Dictionary of Theology, the New Bible Dictionary and the New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, also the Essential IVP Reference Collection CD ROM.

This book was a gift from a friend about a year ago. I use it all the time when reading the Bible and doing studies with friends. It has all the information you could ever want. Some very obscure topics are left untouched, but all of the major and minor topics are dealt with. It also includes maps, pictures, etc. Well worth the money.

The New Bible Dictionary is more like an encyclopaedia than simply a dictionary. The scholarship is first-rate and the book is an almost essential resource for those who are conducting more in-depth study of the Bible.

It contains a number of articles from a range of good Christian scholars on pretty much every person, place, book and other thing in the Bible. For example, when discussing a book of the Bible, the article would contain information about the author, the date of writing, some of the scholarly issues concerning that book and would give a broad overview of the purpose and theology of the book.

This book is an invaluable resource for both lay person and Ministers, and would be useful to anyone who is involved in writing Bible studies or talks on the Bible, or who is undertaking formal study of the Bible or who is simply serious about examining more closely what the Bible really says.

If you fit one of these categories, you should definitely buy this book.

Steven's approach to teaching Greek grammar is concise and practical. His didactic methodology provides a map for the lost Greek student. Charts and summaries aid in clarity. At times some of the technical discussion can be overwhelming for the beginner. However, the text remains a reference work for Greek students long after they are through with their course work. Best of all, Stevens explains Greek grammar with a sense of humor. At times this is all that keeps a student going. In short: a wonderful Greek grammar for beginners and those in need of a quick "refresher text."

I studied Greek under Dr. Carlton Winbery and we used the first edition for our course textbook. That was six years ago, and I still refer back to Dr. Stevens' book when I translate. His textbook is not overly-simplified, nor does it innundate the student with grammatical jargon. Aiming for the first year student, Dr. Stevens has hit his target audience with precision. Some of the most useful tools in the whole of the book are found in the lists and paradigms found in the appendecies. A brilliant accomplishment by Dr. Stevens.

This must be the definitive Greek Grammar! Everything you could want to know about Greek while learning the language is here.

As a fourth-year Spanish student, I couldn't resist taking a look at this book. I opened it up and immediately wished I had books like these when I was younger. On opposing pages are opposites or "los contrarios". The illustrations show colorful and cute bears that represent a word. At the top of the page is the word in english, and at the bottom the word in Spanish. Also at the bottom is a pronunciation of the word, in easy and understandable terms that a child can comprehend. In the back of the book is a list of the all the words with their pronunciation. This is definetly an effective and cute bilingual book I sure wish I had as a kid.

Bought this book for my daughter, age 2, but I used it for my own beginning French class. The professor said that she wished these books had been around when her children were little.

I grew up bilingual in NYC, and with the birth of my child, I wanted a natural way to incorporate Spanish into our lives (I now live in the NW). This book is wonderful, because the bright, contrasting colors make it possible for me to read this book to my newborn, and she is interested in the colorful illustrations, as weel as what I'm saying, in either Spainsh or English, and then my anglo husband can use it as well.

I have found this not only to be very useful, but also it is ver readable. This book consists of enteries of common style, grammar, and word choice mistakes. It's ver easy to find what you are looking for because the enteries are in alphabetical order.

The enteries are quite fascinating to read. For example, is "data" plural or singular? What's the difference between "flaunt" and "flout"? Can you end a sentence with a preposition? Is the plural for octopus "octopi" or "octopuses?" The list goes on and on. This book is not dry at all. If you have any interest in language and writing, this is a necessity to have.

Fowler's guide is too British. Merriam-Webster's guide is much too descriptive and seeks the low ground too often. Garner strikes just the right balance between descriptive (what most people actually say in common practice) and prescriptive (what good usage should be). The result is that his guidance is high toned without being stuffy. He also gives excellent counsel on proper pronunciation of words that confuse many. This is also fun to read!

Having used Garners other titles, e.g., A dictionary of modern legal usage, I thought that this title, i.e.,The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style by Bryan A. Garner, would be just as good. To my utter suprise I was right. Once again Garner (just like he did with legal usage and style )is able to help people with usage and style of American English. For instance what is the singular of paprazzi and what is the correct pronounciation of concierge or schism?.

This is a useful, and highly browseable book. It is a lot of fun, and the author enjoys tracing bawdy terms as well as all the other words in English.

The only drawback to this book is that it is twenty years old, and the study of Indo-European has made enormous progress in those twenty years. As an example, Watkin's dictionary of Indo-European roots (SECOND edition) has virtually obsoleted his first edition -- which was about twenty years old.

But it's enjoyable and useful!

I am a college junior, and I have found no book more helpful in my studies than this one. It is a great reference work that can be used for so many topics and in so many contexts. It is a necessity in my reference collection. The etymlogies of so many roots and words are throroughly explained, and done so with amazing clarity.

Word Ninja

Among the 5,000 books in my library, 50 or 60 of them being dictionaries, this is one of the most erudite and entertaining -- a rare combination. The author's knowledge of literature and language is quite remarkable. Apart from being an invaluable serious reference work it is also a wonderful tome for reading in bed (and it's not too heavy!) It is somewhat too complex, too "deep", to buy as a birthday present for an Auntie or Uncle with everyday interests, but it would make a wonderful present for a gifted young nephew or niece who loves to explore and learn about the wondrous riches of our linguistic and literary heritage

A little complex to use but once you get into it it can be fun. Set up like a dictionary so you need to thumb through it. Interesting resource though

If you love the English language and are truly very curious about the meanings of its words as reflected in the evolution of its origins and meanings, this is a "must have" book. I have used the 1966 issue of it for years now, and rate it more useful, although a companion book, to the seminal work of Walter Skeat. No library can realistically be said to be complete,nor can any lover of the English language, without both of these works.

If you have any interest at all in English etymology, you MUST HAVE THIS BOOK. Beg, borrow, bid, phone every used bookstore you can find -- do anything to get a copy of this book. This book is so good that when I came across a copy of it and skimmed it, all I could do was look back with new regret at the years I'd spent using other works I could now recognize as inferior.

This is simply the best book on English etymology I've ever seen -- beats the earlier etymological dictionaries by Skeats and Weekley hands down, and of course is superior to any normal dictionary's treatment of etymologies (OED, Merriam-Webster, etc.).

This book is excellent. I don't know where to start. Often, we study history with respect to different countries, geographical areas, or religions. This book draws them all together. It provides insight into what these men were thinking, and the personal and political influences they had to deal with. Really interesting.

For the serious theologian, be it of the lay or ordained variety, this is a great resource.

Here, chronologically, the renowned historian Kelly provides insightful, concise historical background into the papacy.

One can be assured that his research is spotless, since his early church knowledge and expertise is renown. This is continued here.

Great to have the bibliographical resources for each entry, knowing that Kelly has sorted the possibilities out and provided valuable service in providing primary assets to investigate.

I'll be referring to mine often in historical research. Anyone who delves into this prominent area will want this valuable, economic resource in their library.

Any book that deals with the topic of Pope Joan, the only female pope, and does not do it with guffaws for comic relief, is a keeper in my library. He also includes a Pope whose four day papacy before his death, never gave him the time to be "sworn in"! Now that is a complete study. Feminism and curiosity aside, though, this is a valuable reference that is also enjoyable reading. My favorite attraction is that for each Pope, Kelly directs you to the best sources for more information on everyone of the Popes he has studied. As interesting groups of people go, it just doesn't get any more interesting than these guys!

The 'Oxford Dictionary of World Religions' is a concise and comprehensive single-volume reference to the religions, faith systems, and spiritual practises of the world. This dictionary has one of the broadest ranges for any multi-religious guide around. The book contains nearly 13,000 entries, broadly categorised as follows:

- Religions
- Movements, sects, cults
- Scriptural and philosophical text synopses and analyses
- Biographies of individuals
- Sacred sites
- Customs and practises

- Ethics and moral systems
- Themes on general topics

Edited by John Bowker, the text is introduced by an essay which pulls together philosophical, sociological and historical information tying together the concepts of religion. 'A strange thing about religion is that we all know what it is until someone ask us to tell them. As Augustine said of time, "What, then, is time? If no one asks me I know; but if I have to say what it is to one who asks, I know not." That has not stopped people trying to define religion, but their definitions are clearly different.'

Bowker, who has published several books including award winning books on the relationship of God and science, and the meaning of death in religious frameworks, has pulled together a team of over 80 contributors, some of the brightest names in the study of religion. Thus, articles and entries are contributed by experts in their respective fields, edited and cross-referenced by Bowker and his team of eight consultant editors who hold academic posts on three continents.

In an innovative fashion, Bowker has included a topical index in back which shows in an abbreviated and quickly-referenced fashion the interrelationship between topics; for instance, if one is using this text to research Anglicanism, in addition to such well-known entries such as Book of Common Prayer and Lambeth Conferences, one would be directed also to see the articles on:

African Greek Orthodox Church
Cambridge Platonists
Sundar Singh
Order of Ethiopia
Latitudinarianism

This makes for interesting reading. Every now and then, an article will be surprising. If you want to research Wrathful Dieties, there is an article so entitled, which discusses both the specifics of events in scripture (God in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scripture is sometimes shown as a wrathful and vengeful) and the general purpose behind the wrathful imagery (moral seriousness).

Also, if you want to know for certain what a Holy Fool is, here is the place! I confess I sometimes feel like a holy fool (as opposed to being more generally an unholy one), but this book has clarified this for me so that I no longer feel that way. According to the dictionary, holy fools are: 'Figures who subvert prevailing orthodoxy and orthopraxis in order to point to the truth which lies beyond immediate conformity. The holy fool endeavours to express the insistence of all religions that detachment from the standards of the world is the sine qua non of advance into truth.'

Many of the articles contain suggestions for further reading, either specific titles or, more generally, authors of note on the topic in question. This is a great reference source, and one I have referenced frequently both in my studies and my personal researches.

The dictionary does its job in explaining religious terms in an up-to-date, clear, and concise manner. The majority of the terms have at the end of the definition a list of books whereby the reader can persue the idea further. All of the broad terms (e.g., death, angels, sin) are broken down into sections for each of the major religions; the major religions themselves are broken down historically. There are a few terms, however, that I would have liked expanded, or were missing, but then again, this is just a general dictionary of religion.

A great reference source if you are interested in studying religion.

Being a library student , I am therefore inquisitive by nature and always looking to expand my realm of knowledge; therefore I found The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions by John Westerdale Bowker(Editor) to by very usefull. The book is divided alphabetivcally and the index is well developed if a bit confusing since it is divided by topic. The book is invaluable in its in depth coverage of all kinds of religions. Being an Uniterian Universalist, I found the article written on my religion of choice to be both informative and easy to read. The font chosen for the book is easy to read and the lay out is also practical.

Before purchasing I did a lot of reading and felt this was the best out there for a Spanish-English CD, and I am not disappointed.

With the other reviews I agree that the thoroughness of this dictionary is outstanding. Most words are put in a variety of contexts to show different usages including common idiomatic expressions and regional expressions according to country. I use it daily as an essential tool in studying Spanish.

However, as a sofware product at $50 it is pretty lousy. The design is clumsy. The search is awkward and very limited, that is, you can't look up combinations of words in quotes. Still, all things considered, this does not hold it back from being worth the price. For the basics it's very easy to use and I recommend it.

If you are serious about learning/improving your Spanish, buy it! This is a Spanish/English English/Spanish Dictionary. It is wonderful because not only does it have tons of entris but it seems to have examples for all if not most of its entreis. Example, say you want to learn the word "flat" in spanish. It will give you English sentences or phrases for the various connotations of the word "flat" and it will have the spanish translation for each of the English connotations! This is great becaus you'll know that your getting the right Spanish word for the concept you want to convey.

This is the best dictionary I have ever used. Not only is it fast and easy to look up words, but it also has a wealth of definitions/meanings for each one. It is one of the few dictionaries I have found that also includes regional slang. It's a little pricy, but its ease of use makes it worth every peseta, er, penny.