Did you ever wonder how much more useful a dictionary would be if it didn't waste space defining everyday words that speakers of English would never need to look up?
The Illustrated Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words is an ideal reference for identifying and defining just those words that the average person encounters often, but does not find immediately familiar.
The book is broken down into eight major sections-Language, the Arts, History, Society, the Physical World, Sciences, Technology, and Sports and Leisure. Each section contains collections of the most frequently used words in fifty-two related subject areas.
Here's how it works. If you know the word, but not its spelling and definition, you can simply consult the Word Finder-a listing that directs you to the section containing the word, its spelling, definition, and other words used in the subject. But even if you don't know the word at all, or only partly remember it, or don't know the difference between similar words, you can simply and easily locate the appropriate section to find the word or definition you're interested in. For example, let's suppose you know there's a word for the study of birds, and that it ends in "ology," simply look up the section Fields of Study and you'll find "ornithology." What about finding out the difference between "exculpate" and "exonerate"? Simply flip to the Law section where both are covered.
With more than 8,000 entries of unfamiliar words and clear illustrations throughout, this unique resource will be a welcomed addition to your reference shelf.
The Illustrated Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words will help you strengthen your knowledge of words while expanding your vocabulary with words you never knew existed. Try these:
- What's the origin of the expression "beyond the pale"? How is it used today?
- How does "impressionism" differ from "expressionism"?
- What's the difference between "blanching," "braising," and "basting"?
- Do you know the relationship between the "gross domestic product" and the "gross national product"?
- What's the word for marrying outside of a social group, such as a village or a tribe?
