What's in a name? Rather more than you might at first suspect, for names are steeped in history and myth and have much to tell us about our past, our beliefs - even our personality traits. The Penguin Pocket Dictionary of Babies' Names takes a close look at 3500 names, explaining origins and meanings, showing how some have changed in popularity and use over time and providing all the diminutive and variant forms. Part of Penguin's major new series of reference titles ranging from Spanish and French dictionaries to books on spelling and quotations.
Collins Gem English Dictionary is the world's most popular small dictionary. First published in 1902, it has remained a firm favourite with its handy size, ease of use, and comprehensive coverage. Using Collins Word Web, the world's largest language database, this new edition incorporates the very latest changes in the language. / New words for 2005 / Clear definitions / Spelling and grammar tips / Help with pronunciation All this promises to keep Collins Gem English Dictionary at the top for another century.
The Collins COBUILD Dictionary of Idioms offers in-depth coverage of the most important idioms in English and provides additional information about their frequency, contexts, meanings, and usage. Clearly laid-out and easy-to-use, this volume will prove to be fascinating and invaluable to teachers and learners of English at all levels.
A new edition of the acclaimed Collins French Gem Dictionary, revised and updated with the latest vocabulary and now including a handy supplement of useful travel phrases. With its extensive coverage of French language in a compact form, the Collins French Gem remains the indispensable small dictionary for learners of French. Newly updated, its 35,000-plus references and 70,000 translations include the latest additions to the language. With clear and attractive layout and typography, featuring special entries relating to interesting aspects of French life and culture, notes warning the user of easily confusable words and a handy supplement on useful travel phrases, the French Gem is compact, reliable and completely up-to-date: the ideal small dictionary for school and general use.
Emphasizing contemporary Latin American Spanish (and American English), Merriam-Webster's latest dictionary offers concise definitions for more than 80,000 words and phrases. Special sections cover the conjugation of Spanish verbs, common Spanish and English abbreviations, and a few basic tips on Spanish grammar. One nice feature is the clear explanation on the back cover for how to "read" an entry. Random House's Latin-American Spanish Dictionary (1997) shares some similar traits and a similar audience and is in the same price range. Webster's covers 20,000 more words and phrases than does Random House's and gives more frequent plural and masculine/feminine endings, but it provides less depth, fewer regional differences, and fewer informal definitions than Random House's does. If you can only afford one Latin American Spanish dictionary, buy Random House's; otherwise, Webster's is recommended for circulating collections in public and academic libraries.AJohn Charles, Scottsdale P.L., AZ Copyrigh
If you have ever written a poem, a song, a limerick, or a few lines for a greeting card, you may have struggled to come up with the right rhyming word. This dictionary is a listing of words grouped according the way they rhyme. Easy and fun to use, it is perfect for writers of all ages.
Now including the most important new words and phrases in English and Russian, the Collins Russian Gem Dictionary offers accurate and reliable coverage of today’s language. In addition, the most common words have been given more detailed treatment in order to make them easier for the user to understand and translate. New to this edition are special entries on life and culture in Russia, Britain, and the United States, and an indispensable glossary of business words in Russian and English. Presented in a handy, portable format, and with a clear, user-friendly layout, the Collins Russian Gem Dictionary is the indispensable reference tool for office, home, travel, and study.
