Product Description

For crossword fans, students, readers, writers, or anyone with a voracity for language—a year of new words from the editors at Merriam-Webster, America's most respected dictionary. Contemporary words (Cybrarian—a person whose job it is to find, collect, and manage information that is available on the World Wide Web). Mythological words (Lamia—a female demon: vampire). Cultural words (Götterdämmerung—a collapse, as of a society or regime, marked by catastrophic violence and disorder). Playful words (Yawp—to make a raucous noise: squeak), and more. Each entry includes a definition, pronunciation, word history, and sample sentence.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #426175 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Calendar
• 370 pages

From the Back Cover
For inveterate word buffs

Give your vocabulary a boost with a year of great new words to know—including definition, pronunciation, word history and sample sentence—from Merriam Webster, America's most respected dictionary. The contemporary (cybrarian), the literary ( John Barleycorn), the playful (bumbershoot), the simply good-to-know (impresario). Indulge your voracity for language.

About the Author
In 1843, after Noah Webster's death, George and Charles Merriam secured publishing and revision rights to the 1840 edition of the dictionary. They published a modest revision in 1847, and a second update with illustrations in 1859. In 1864, Merriam published a much expanded edition, largely overhauling Noah Webster's work, yet retaining Webster's title, "'An American Dictionary."' This began a series of revisions known as "'Unabridged,"' which became increasingly more "'Merriam"' than "'Webster."' With the edition of 1890, the dictionary was retitled, "'Webster's International."' The vocabulary was vastly expanded in "'Webster's New International"' editions of 1909 and 1934, totaling over half a million words. Merriam overhauled the dictionary again with the 1961 "'Webster's Third New International"' under the direction of Philip B. Gove, making changes which sparked public controversy. The "'Collegiate Dictionary"' series was initiated in 1898. Since the 1940s, the company has added many specialized dictionaries, language aides, and other references to its repertoire. The G. and C. Merriam Company lost its right to exclusive use of the name "'Webster"' after a series of lawsuits placed it in public domain. Its name was changed to Merriam-Webster Inc. with the publication of Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary in 1983. The company has been a subsidiary of Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. since 1964. As of 2003, the company's two best known dictionaries are: Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged, the most complete current non-specialist American dictionary of English. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, the largest and most popular college dictionary, which is available in CD-ROM format for use on personal computers. Merriam-Webster has also published dictionaries of synonyms, English usage, geography (Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary), biography, proper names, medical terms, sports terms, slang, Spanish-English, and numerous others. Non-dictionary publications include, Collegiate Thesaurus, Secretarial Handbook, Manual for Writers and Editors, Collegiate Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia of Literature, Encyclopedia of World Religions.

Customer Reviews

Wordsmith
I really thought I was a wordsmith until I got this calendar. I haven't known any of the words since the beginning of the year but I'm having a ball learning. I also like that the word is used in a sentence to provide context. Also on the back of the page some history related to the word's use. A great calendar.

Daily knowledge
Use this calendar every year for several years and it has expanded my vocabulary and/or focused me back on the real definition of a word that I've "misused."

Using it to pass the GRE
It's useful because gives explanation of its origin in addition to offering the definition, example and pronunciation.