Nearly 80 million desks and bookshelves worldwide boast a member of the distinguished family of Webster's New World dictionaries. From the New York Times to the Los Angeles Times, most major newspapers have adopted the College Edition as their standard first-reference resource. So have the Associated Press and United Press International. The professionals know that when you need to get the words rights the first time, every time, you need Webster's New World Dictionary.

But this is much more than the most useful, readable, and accurate desk dictionary you can find. Ever since the first edition was published more than forty years ago, the Webster's New World staff has been dedicated to presenting the English language not merely as it is but also as it has evolved. In these pages you will find more up-to-date, in-depth etymologies than in any other American dictionary, tracing our current vocabulary back to its rich and varied sources.

Definitions are presented in modified historical order, illuminating the process by which the language grows and changes. More than 11,000 Americanisms are clearly marked, illustrating the astonishing inventiveness of our diverse culture. Every entry offers new and fascinating perspectives on the language that we share, because the Webster's New World Dictionary has always sought to record the English language, not restrict it

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Webster's New World Dictionary is a precise reference tool carefully created to meet the needs of the most demanding user. Definitions are accurately written to convey the most up-to-date information in a user-friendly, easily understood style. Commonly used foreign expressions that should be italicized are clearly identified; and an innovative feature is a syllabification system that distinguishes between preferred word breaks for line-end hyphenation and possible but less desirable breaks.

In this updated edition, new entries map the frontiers of English in an era of unparalleled diversity and rapid development, while more than 150,000 entries ensure that you'll find the word you're looking for...and a great deal more.

In today's information age, in which clarity of expression and understanding are at a premium, and the ability to communicate crisply and accurately becomes more important every day, a high-quality desk dictionary is absolutely essential. Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, is such a dictionary.