A dictionary is a list of words with their definitions, a list of characters with their glyphs, or a list of words with corresponding words in other languages. In some languages, words can appear in many different forms, but only the lemma form appears as the main word or headword in most dictionaries. Many dictionaries also provide pronunciation information; grammatical information; word derivations, histories, or etymologies; illustrations; usage guidance; and examples in phrases or sentences. Dictionaries are most commonly found in the form of a book.

History

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The first monolingual English dictionary is usually considered to be Robert Cawdrey's 1604 A Table Alphabeticall (text).Micklethwait, David (2005). Noah Webster and the American Dictionary, 34. ISBN 0786421576. Cawdrey's dictionary only defined loanwords.

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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

bastion
Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:15:01 -0500
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 07, 2009 is: bastion • \BAS-chun\  • noun 1 : a projecting part of a fortification 2 : a fortified area or position 3 a : a place of security or survival* b : a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic Example sentence: The university's economics department was considered the last bastion of political conservatism within an otherwise liberal campus. Did you know? "Bastion" is constructed of etymological building blocks that are very similar to those of "bastille" (a word now used as a general term for a prison, but probably best known as the name of the Parisian fortress-turned-prison stormed by an angry mob at the start of the French Revolution). The history of "bastion" can be traced through Middle French to the Old Italian verb "bastire," which means "to build." "Bastille" descends from the Old Occitan verb "bastir," which also means "to build." "Bastir" and "bastire" are themselves of Germanic origin and akin to the Old High German word "besten," meaning "to patch." *Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
nudnik
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:15:01 -0500
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 06, 2009 is: nudnik • \NOOD-nik (the "OO" is as in "good")\  • noun : a person who is a bore or nuisance Example sentence: James worried that he would never finish his work if the office nudnik didn't quit hanging around his cubicle. Did you know? The suffix "-nik" came to English through Yiddish (and ultimately from Polish and Ukrainian). It means "one connected with or characterized by being." You might be familiar with "beatnik," "computernik," or "neatnik," but what about "no-goodnik" or "allrightnik"? The suffix "-nik" is frequently used in English to create nonce words that are often jocular or slightly derogatory. Some theorize that the popularity of the suffix was enhanced by Russian "Sputnik," as well as Al Capp's frequent use of "-nik" words in his "L'il Abner" cartoons. The "nud-" of the Yiddish borrowing "nudnik" ultimately comes from the Polish word "nuda," meaning "boredom."
maugre
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:15:01 -0500
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 05, 2009 is: maugre • \MAW-gur\  • preposition archaic : in spite of Example sentence: "I love thee so that, maugre all thy pride, / Nor wit nor reason can my passion hide." (Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Act III, Scene i) Did you know? "Maugre" is now quite rare, but having served the English language for more than 700 years, it's due whatever rest it's currently enjoying. Although it may not be a word worth incorporating into your expressive vocabulary, being familiar with it will be helpful in reading the works of such authors as Shakespeare, Scott, Milton, and, as in this quote from his Essays, First Series, Emerson: "By virtue of this inevitable nature, private will is overpowered, and, maugre our efforts or our imperfections, your genius will speak from you, and mine from me." The word is Anglo-French in origin, coming from "mal" or "mau," meaning "evil," and "gré," meaning "grace, favor."
invective
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:15:01 -0500
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 04, 2009 is: invective • \in-VEK-tiv\  • noun *1 : an abusive expression or speech 2 : insulting or abusive language : vituperation Example sentence: The sonnet is an invective against the poet's wife and the man who cuckolded him. Did you know? "Invective" began life in the 15th century as an adjective meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by insult or abuse." In 1523, it appeared in print as a noun meaning "an example of abusive speech." Eventually, the noun developed a second sense applying to abusive language as a whole. "Invective" comes to us from the Middle French word "invectif," which in turn derives from Latin "invectivus," meaning "reproachful, abusive." ("Invectivus" comes from Latin "invectus," past participle of the verb "invehere," one form of which means "to assail with words.") "Invective" is similar to "abuse," but it tends to suggest not only anger and vehemence, but also verbal and rhetorical skill. It sometimes implies public denunciation, as in "blistering political invective." *Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
regimen
Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:15:01 -0500
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 03, 2009 is: regimen • \REJ-uh-mun\  • noun *1 : a systematic course of treatment or training 2 : government, rule 3 : a government in power : regime Example sentence: Sherry’s personal trainer at the gym started her on a workout regimen of 30 minutes on the treadmill followed by 30 minutes of weight training. Did you know? We borrowed "regimen" straight from Latin, spelling and all -- but in Latin, the word simply meant "rule" or "government." In English, it usually refers to a system of rules or guidelines, often for living a healthy life or taking a regular dose of exercise. The Latin "regimen" derives from another Latin word, the verb "regere," which means "to lead straight" or "to rule." If you trace straight back from "regere," you'll find that "regimen" has plenty of lexical kin, including "correct," "erect," "region," "rule," and "surge." If you are using the "training" sense of "regimen," be careful not to confuse the word with "regiment," another "regere" descendant, which is used for a military unit. *Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
voluble
Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:15:01 -0500
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 02, 2009 is: voluble • \VAHL-yuh-bul\  • adjective 1 : easily rolling or turning : rotating *2 : characterized by ready or rapid speech : glib, fluent Example sentence: The young man proved to be a voluble informer who would tell stories of bookies, smugglers, and hit men to the detectives for hours. Did you know? English has many terms for gabby types, but it's important to choose the right word to get across what kind of chatterbox you mean. "Talkative" usually implies a readiness to engage in talk or a disposition to enjoy conversation. "Loquacious" generally suggests the power to express oneself fluently, articulately, or glibly, but it can also mean "talking excessively." "Garrulous" is even stronger in its suggestion of excessive talkativeness; it is most often used for tedious, rambling talkers. "Voluble" describes an individual who speaks easily and often. *Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.

MedTerms Word of the Day

Quater in die (on prescription)
Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0700
Quater in die (on prescription): Seen on a prescription, qid (or q.i.d.) means 4 times a day (from the Latin quater in die). The abbreviation qid or q.i.d. is also sometimes written without a period in capital letters as "QID". However it is written, it is one of a number of hallowed abbreviations of Latin terms that have been traditionally used in prescriptions to specify the frequency with which medicines should be taken. Other examples include: q.d. (qd or QD) is once a day; q.d. stands for "quaque die" (which means, in Latin, once a day). b.i.d. (or bid or BID) is two times a day; b.i.d. stands for "bis in die" (in Latin, 2 times a day). t.i.d. (or tid or TID) is three times a day ; t.i.d. stands for "ter in die" (in Latin, 3 times a day). q_h: If a medicine is to be taken every so-many hours, it is written "q_h"; the "q" standing for "quaque" and the "h" indicating the number of hours. So, for example, "2 caps q4h" means "Take 2 capsules every 4 hours."MedTerms (TM) is the Medical Dictionary of MedicineNet.com.We Bring Doctors' Knowledge To You

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