i’ve never been on this site before – that is to say, you don’t even get like a couple free words
what a joke
Hi! With the OED, it has been like that at least since I started university in 2007. However, lots of public libraries have subscriptions. I just go to my library website, login, and follow the link to the OED. There are many other reference tools that are also included in my library card. Libraries rule!
Edit: you can check merriam-webster for free, I think
Instructions crystal clear, researching etymology of 500-year-old words 😍
Thanks San Francisco Public Library!
You can still buy the book or access the site via most libraries.
I get that it’s a bit annoying, but I’m guessing you’d also be annoyed about an ad-ridden, data-harvesting dictionary.
The Oxford English Dictionary is without a doubt the most well-researched, comprehensive, and linguistically complete English dictionary on Earth, bar none. Nothing even comes close to its depth and scope.
It perhaps is the most well-researched and comprehensive dictionary of all languages, but I wouldn’t know.
It’s laid out in an unusual way and even has words and alternate meanings that haven’t been used for centuries. It’s not meant to be a general-purpose dictionary, it’s niche and predominantly for linguistic experts or people fascinated by language.
An unbelievable amount of research goes into it, and those people deserve to be paid.
There are dozens of freely-available general-purpose dictionaries out there if you want them.
I was annoyed, like the OP, then I read your comment and now I’m impressed and have an urge to buy a copy of OED I most certainly will never open. They owe you a commission on my sale.
I don’t think you can buy the book. It was 20 volumes in 1989, and they’ve been working on an ongoing update since then. There’s no plans to physically print a third edition.
But yeah, it’s a serious scholarly resource, and they do put out free small dictionaries as well.
You can still buy it in print. It’s $1215. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-english-dictionary-9780198611868
With ads! Wait, I also dislike those… They should figure it out for themselves!
The OED has never been free. Go buy a copy and you’ll know why.
In spite of the undeniable truth that the Oxford English Dictionary is a magnificent and exhaustive source of information on the etymology and meaning of the English language, it is my personal inclination to favor their compendium of synonyms and antonyms, which I prefer to other possibilities for their rich collection of words with similar or opposite meanings.
