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Reference
Based on the authoritative American Heritage (R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition, this new edition of the American Heritage (R) Desk Dictionary has been completely updated; every single entry has been reviewed and revised as necessary. Its thousands of new words and senses, such as antiquark, earbud, and the verb sense of friend, reflect recent developments in the sciences, technology, and popular culture. Hundreds of photographs and drawings enhance the text, and several tables such as the periodic table of the elements and a table of units of measurement provide helpful data in a useful visual format.
Forming the heart of the dictionary, however, are its more than 70,000 entry words, whose clear, straightforward definitions--supplemented by pronunciations, inflections of irregular verbs and plural nouns, and selected etymologies--make the American Heritage (R) Desk Dictionary an essential reference for the office, school, or home.
- More than 70,000 entries, thoroughly revised and updated - More than 1,000 new words and meanings, from bioreserve and domestic partner to MP3 and zine - Expert guidance on correct English usage - 400 photographs and drawings that enhance the definitions - Synonyms, regional notes, etymologies, and more
- Thoroughly revised and updated
- 2,500 new words and meanings
- More than 400 photographs and illustrations
- Expert guidance on correct usage YOU ARE YOUR WORDS
The words you use define you. Make the most of them with The American Heritage(R) Dictionary.
THE FIFTH EDITION FEATURES Clear definitions written in a style that is accurate and easy to understand
New words and senses in all areas from science and technology to food and clothing
Biographical and geographical entries that identify the people and places you need to know
Useful illustrations that enhance the definitions and make learning easier
Expert guidance on usage based on surveys of the American Heritage(R) Usage Panel
Etymologies, synonyms, antonyms, and much more
The Editors of the American Heritage(R) Dictionary have added over 10,000 new words and senses. From slang and popular culture to the latest medical, high-tech, and scientific terms, the Fourth Edition's vocabulary has been thoroughly updated to reflect our constantly changing language.
Fresh, full-color design. Over 4,000 full-color photographs, drawings, and maps enhance the American Heritage(R) Dictionary's definitions and make browsing irresistible.
Trustworthy usage guidance. The American Heritage(R) Dictionary has distinguished itself for decades by offering clear and comprehensive usage guidance. Hundreds of new and updated Usage Notes, based on the results of surveys sent to the more than 200 scholars and writers who comprise our Usage Panel, help you make informed decisions about usage questions you face every day.
More in-depth note features than any other dictionary. Word Histories, Synonym Paragraphs, and Regional Notes explore the language in a breadth and depth unequaled by any other dictionary.
All-new Our Living Language Notes. A fascinating new series of Notes illustrates how social factors such as age and ethnicity influence the way our language is shaped by speakers from all walks of life.
Unrivaled biographies and geographies. The American Heritage(R) Dictionary has long been known for its expansive treatment of biographical and geographical entries. These informative capsule summaries have been thoroughly updated for the Fourth Edition.
Two unique Appendixes. Discover the hidden connections between words in the newly expanded Appendix of Indo-European Roots and in the all-new Appendix of Semitic Roots. The American Heritage(R) Dictionary offers you the most thorough and intriguing view of the history of words to be found in any dictionary.
The much-anticipated Fifth Edition of The American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language is the premier resource about words for people who seek to know more and find fresh perspectives. Exhaustively researched and thoroughly revised, the Fifth Edition contains 10,000 new words and senses, over 4,000 dazzling new full-color images, and authoritative, up-to-date guidance on usage from the celebrated American Heritage(R) Usage Panel.
In keeping with the American Heritage tradition of cutting-edge research, the Fifth Edition represents the work of a dedicated team of experts, scholars, and contributors. Thousands of definitions have been revised in rapidly changing fields such as astronomy and biology, geographical entries and maps have been completely updated, and the dictionary's signature feature notes on word history, synonymy, and language variation have been enhanced and improved. Trustworthy advice on controversies and conundrums in English usage is provided by the American Heritage Usage Panel, a group of 200 prominent users of the language. Under the leadership of Steven Pinker, preeminent researcher on language and the mind, the Panel passes judgment on both new and longstanding usage problems. No other dictionary offers such discerning and helpful guidance on issues of usage, grammar, and style. Word meanings are made easier to understand with thousands of new quotations from classic and contemporary writers. Etymologies explaining word origins and development have been newly created or revised to reflect the very latest scholarship. Many words are traced back to their roots in prehistory through two unique appendixes showing word roots in ancient Indo-European and Semitic.Reliable, enlightening, and visually stunning, the Fifth Edition of The American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language gives you the opportunity to make your mark in the best possible way.
The renowned American Heritage(R) Usage Panel, a group of more than 200 distinguished writers, scholars, and scientists, offers advice on problems of grammar and style; engaging notes explain word histories and clarify differences among synonyms; thousands of quotations and example sentences show words in context; and elegant definitions are enhanced by 4,000 full-color photographs, drawings, and maps, making this one of the most readable dictionaries available anywhere.
This dictionary can also be purchased with a fully loadable Windows(R) / Mac(R) CD-ROM that contains the entire text of the updated Fourth Edition, 68,000 audio pronunciations, 1,000 full-color photographs and illustrations, and a college-level thesaurus with more than 260,000 synonyms. The CD-ROM has spell-check capability and can be used in conjunction with any Microsoft(R) Office application to get definitions at the click of a mouse.
The renowned American Heritage(R) Usage Panel, a group of more than 200 distinguished writers, scholars, and scientists, offers advice on problems of grammar and style; engaging notes explain word histories and clarify differences among synonyms; thousands of quotations and example sentences show words in context; and elegant definitions are enhanced by 4,000 full-color photographs, drawings, and maps, making this one of the most readable dictionaries available anywhere.
This dictionary can also be purchased with a fully loadable Windows(R) / Mac(R) CD-ROM that contains the entire text of the updated Fourth Edition, 68,000 audio pronunciations, 1,000 full-color photographs and illustrations, and a college-level thesaurus with more than 260,000 synonyms. The CD-ROM has spell-check capability and can be used in conjunction with any Microsoft(R) Office application to get definitions at the click of a mouse.
-Thoroughly revised and updated
-1,000 new words and meanings
-Over 400 photographs and illustrations
-Expert guidance on correct usage
Based on the bestselling American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
American Heritage(R) dictionaries are widely known as the most innovative and informative dictionaries in today's market. This all-new fourth edition of the best-selling classic continues that tradition with its clear and precise definitions, its expert usage guidance, and its wealth of illustrations. Newly updated to reflect our changing language, this revised edition is the most up-to-date and authoritative dictionary available today.
-More than a thousand new entries for such terms as "e-tailer, zine, bioreserve, chatroom, red card, domestic partner "
-More biographical and geographical entries than any other paperback, thoroughly updated for the new millennium
-The most lavishly illustrated dictionary on the market -- with over 400 images
-Expert usage guidance based on the American Heritage(R) Usage Panel
-Regional notes from around the country
-Hundreds of synonym lists, fascinating etymologies, and much more
American Heritage(R) Dictionaries. Setting a new standard.
- A-to-Z dictionary format that eliminates lengthy index and appendix
- Comprehensive list of synonyms grouped by clear definitions--avoids the confusing hodgepodge of obscure and distantly related terms
- Cross-references among closely related entries to insure precision
- Thousands of completely updated slang and informal terms
- Pertinent quotations and examples that convey nuances in meaning among the most basic and important synonyms An indispensable addition to the American Heritage family of language guides, destined to become a classic, The American Heritage Thesaurus is a book no home, school, or office should be without.
From the editors of America's favorite dictionary comes the definitive reference for meeting today's challenging communication demands. Remarkably easy to use and completely up-to-date, The American Heritage Thesaurus is an essential resource for finding the perfect word, enhancing your mastery of the English language, and expressing yourself with precision and efficiency. No other thesaurus on the market today offers a more superlative selection of synonyms, concise definitions, easy-to-follow cross-references, and depth of meaning for the modern-day user.
- More than 20,000 main entries and 150,000 synonyms
- A-to-Z dictionary format that eliminates lengthy index and appendix
- Comprehensive list of synonyms grouped by clear definitions--avoids the confusing hodgepodge of obscure and distantly related terms
- Cross-references among closely related entries to insure precision
- Thousands of completely updated slang and informal terms
- Pertinent quotations and examples that convey nuances in meaning among the most basic and important synonyms
An indispensable addition to the American Heritage family of language guides, destined to become a classic, The American Heritage Thesaurus is a book no home, school, or office should be without.
The American Sign Language Handshape Puzzle Book features 54 different puzzles to help students learn, review, and strengthen their signing vocabulary. Inspired by the bestselling dictionary, this unique workbook offers a variety of puzzles at three different levels -- easy, medium, and difficult. Author Linda Lascelle Hillebrand provides a concise explanation of the basic handshapes used in American Sign Language (ASL), then invites readers to have fun while solving all sorts of sign puzzles.
Users can practice sign identification with Crossword and Word Search puzzles that have signs as clues rather than words. Easy puzzles show as few as six signs while advanced puzzles contain as many as 30 signs each. Some of the crossword puzzles provide spaces both across and down for the multiple meanings that many signs can represent. Handshape Order puzzles require users to identify the handshape of the sign in an illustration, then list the sign's meaning in English. Match puzzles also challenge readers to find corresponding signs for English glosses. Solutions to It Doesn't Belong and Sign Description puzzles depend upon knowing the parameters of ASL signs--handshape, orientation, location, and movement--to deduce which word in a list doesn't belong, and to write the English word for the described signs. The American Sign Language Handshape Puzzle Book is a new, different, and entertaining way to practice ASL that students of all ages are sure to enjoy.