The Compact Oxford English Dictionary

• The Oxford English Dictionary is an unrivalled guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of over half a million words
• The Dictionary traces the evolution of over 600,000 words from across the English-speaking world through 2.4 million quotations
• Historical in focus, each of the OED's entries contain the word's earliest known use, as well as later examples which help plot the word's subsequent development in English
• Its quotations are taken from a broad range of English language sources - from classic literature and specialist periodicals to film scripts and cookery books
• Elegantly designed for maximum legibility and printed to the highest standards on the finest quality paper

"From the reviews of the Second Edition of The Oxford English Dictionary:"The gigantic total picture of the English language...an epic achievement." Anthony Burgess, Observer"

"A stupendous achievement." - William Golding, Evening Standard

"The greatest reference book ever written." - Stephen Jay Gould, Nature

"A national treasure." - New Statesman & Society