Websters-Online-Dictionary.org - Online version of Webster's Dictionary & Thesaurus
Title
Webster's Online Dictionary - with Multilingual Thesaurus Translation
Description
Debates notwithstanding, the 1913 edition of Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary defines a "word" as: "The spoken sign of a conception or an idea; an articulate or vocal sound, or a combination of articulate and vocal sounds, uttered by the human voice, and by custom expressing an idea or ideas; a single component part of human speech or language; a constituent part of a sentence; a term; a vocable." It is using this inspired definition that this dictionary of "words" was created for people from many linguistic cultures, in honor of the American educator Noah Webster.
If a word in any language is used to communicate meaning, it therefore is a word. The energy debating over whether words are "real", "official", "slang" or popular enough to be included in a dictionary is better spent including them in dictionaries so that others can enjoy the debate. The reader will see included, for example, many new words popularized in song lyrics and movies (incredible treasure troves of new "words"). There is no editorial policy of word exclusion or censorship. Derogatory or vulgar words are included and defined as such. This policy is also pragmatic, as we simply do not have the volunteer staff hours available to make word selection editorial decisions. We let a computer do the talking.
Noah Webster was one of the first dictionary writers to buck convention and define (even spell) words according to common usage, especially American usage - accepting color as used in the United States versus colour as used in Britain. In a similar vein, we include as many versions of a given word as possible, including general and specialized synonyms. Since we have used, like so many other modern dictionaries (including those of his children and G. & C. Merriam Co.), Webster’s definitions (which are now part of the public domain) as a starting point. It is not surprising for aficionados to find a verbatim Noah Webster definition, or one that borrows long passages. In our case, we give general credit to Webster as most of the definitions for a bulk of the English section of The Rosetta Edition, share a lexicographic heritage from Webster. If a definition has been updated from his original, then the more recent definition is offered. If not, then Webster's original definition, or one from the 1913 unabridged dictionary bearing his name, is offered and credited. Technical terminology not known at the time of Webster is defined using modern sources.
Contact
- Webster's Online Dictionary
-
- San Diego California
- United States 92122
-
- +1.8585464340
