The Oxford Reverse Dictionary

If you like to search for the exactly right word, if you don't believe there's such things as synonyms, if you just love the language and enjoy browsing to learn things you don't know, then you'll enjoy this. Five stars because I'm a sucker for the sorites paradox: it doesn't top the list of must-have language references, but it's still a darn good addition to a competent reference shelf. If you're looking for a first word reference beyond a dictionary and a thesaurus, get the Random House Webster's Word Menu (Random House Newer Words Faster).

The Oxford Reverse Dictionary converges on the elusive word you canft bring to mind or do not know. It letfs you take a round about route by applying a concept, or asking a question to find the word you want. For example you probably canft recall the name of Japanese acupuncture. I thought of puncturing the skin with needles, but neither puncturing nor needles got me very far but it did raise the question, what is it? A treatment, this entry led me to the keyword therapy: shiatsu. You canft do that either with dictionary or thesaurus. I wondered whether there was a word to describe the fear of number thirteen. Under the keyword fear: triskaidekaphobia.The Oxford Reverse Dictionary groups words by subject-related keywords: for example organ, advertorial, kill, D notice, silly season, chequebook journalism can all be found under the keyword: newspaper. A helpful feature is the apt and succinct and right-on-target definition that precedes every word or phrase. Taking a word out of the above list for example silly season is defined as high summer, when there is a dearth of serious news.Presented in the most ideal format yet compiled to find and learn new words. Keywords are in bold print to assist with going back and forth from text to monitor to notes so you get the information you need in the shortest and easiest fashion. The typeset, layout, choice of paper and heft of the ORD will soon make it familiar and comfortable and a word tool of choice of the student, writer, crossword buff and anyone whose business is words. - - This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

So often I'll have a word I need "on the tip of my tongue" and then it disappears. The Oxford Reverse Dictionary is a marvelous source for finding those elusive words. The other day I wanted the word for pig intestines used as food, so I looked under "pig" and there it was: "chitterlings." I find this an indispensable resource.