The Random House Dictionary of the English Language

The absolutely best thing about this dictionary is the clarity of its definitions...there is seldom, if ever, a need to look up another word in order to understand the original definition. The next best thing is its encyclopedic qualities...names and places also at your fingertips. I wish the binding boards and cloth were as durable as the first edition. I have never minded bringing out this unabridged dictionary just to look up one word because it has never let me down, even with a Scrabble challenge. Too bad it has been allowed to go out of print. I will add that Bowker rated this dictionary highly in their Buying Guide to General Reference Books for Adults.