The Large-Type Concise English Dictionary [antikvár]

PREFACE The present work, the Laege-type Concise English Dictionary, is, as its name implies, Annandale's Concise English Dictionary re-set in larger type. In carrying out the re-setting the opportunity bas been taken to include in the body of the book those words that have hitherto appeared in the Supplement as well as a certain number of other words of recent occurrence. The Appendices, a most valuable and useful feature—Forms of Address, Alphabetical List of English Writers, Noted Names in Fiction, &c.—have been revised and supplemented. Also a new Supplement bas been provided, mostly of scientific terms of more or less recent introduction and of expansions of definitions already given in the body of the book. All the original characteristic features of the Concise Dictionary have been preserved. These are explained in Dr. Annandale's Preface to the original work, here condensed as follows: The name of Concise Dictionary has been adopted for this work in order to express the fact that it has been compiled on the principle of compressing a great quantity of matter into very moderate compass. Conciseness, however, is merely relative, and this dictionary, though its bulk is small, will be found to give a greater amount of information than might be expected from its mere size. In particular, words and terms connected Tvith the various arts and sciences, and with all the common topics of the time, are explained with some fullness, this being the sort of information for which the majority of readers most commonly consult a dictionary. The vocabulary also is very ample, the definitions precise and clear, and, as a whole, the book, it is believed, will form a handy and trustworthy work of reference for all who are content—or have to content themselves—with a dictionary of moderate compass and moderate price. Obsolete words and meanings when considered to be of importance are given; more especially when they are to be met with in the Bible, in Shakespeare, Milton, and other eminent writers. The words that make up the bulk of the vocabulary of this dictionary, however, mainly belong to modern literature, science, and art, and comprise many of quite recent origin. In order to carry out the work on the principle of conciseness and to condense the matter as much as possible, the method of grouping certain words together in one paragraph, instead of giving each a separate paragraph to itself, has been adopted. Only such words as are closely connected in origin, form, and meaning are thus grouped—the group very often consisting of a primary word followed by a number of derivatives, compounds also being grouped under the word that forms their first element. Besides economizing