The American Heritage Dictionary [antikvár]

T m. he publication of The American Heritage Dictionary in 1969 was a major event in the history of American lexicography. The goal of its editors, expressed by William Morris, was to create a new dictionary that would not only faithfully record our language but alsó add the sensible dimension of guidance toward grace and precision in the use of our language, which intelligent people seek in a dictionary. The overwhelming critical and popular success of the Dictionary has been testimony to the validity and achievement of that goal. It is with pride in this tradition that we now offer the Second College Edition, the first complete revision of The American Heritage Dictionary. It is a book demanded by the profound changes and developments in language that have occurred in the last decade. A major concern has always been to provide users the information they need about language in an accessible and understandable way. This concern has guided the preparation of the new edition. Like its predecessor, the Second College Edition covers the vocabulary ranging from the language of Shakespeare to the idiom of the present day. In order to present the vocabulary required by the well-informed, contemporary aduit, the basic lexicon has been thoroughly reviewed, revised, and updated. Language is continually changing, continually being enriched from many sources. Dramatic sociological, cultural, and political developments have had a stunning impact on our language. Politics, business, various subcultures, and the média have contributed to a new generál vocabulary. Thus, more than 10,000 new generál vocabulary words and meanings have been carefully selected and meticulously defined by our permanent lexicographic staff and outside authorities from a variety of disciplines. In recognition of the increased role played by technology and science in daily life, the Second College Edition alsó includes more than 5,000 new scientiíic and technical terms. The field of computer science exemplifies the unprecedented growth we have witnessed in technology and the sciences in recent years; growth that has produced vast stores of new words and meanings. The soul of a dictionary, however, is the quality of its definitions. An objective of the Second College Edition is to provide the user with understanding, comprehension, and appreciation of the language in a readable manner. Therefore, we have endeavored to present the most prevalent, contemporary sense or meaning of a word first, with the other shades of meaning following logically from this current, central concept. This departure from traditional lexicography, wherein senses are presented chronologically with the oldest meaning first and the most current last, is unique to The American Heritage Dictionary and has been highly regarded by its users. Praised for their clarity and precision, the definitions are written in concise, lucid prose and avoid the dictionary shorthand that makes most dictionaries forbid-