An Introduction to
Dr. Jun Wang
Goleman Library
What Is OED?
• An online dictionary like no other with
– 600,000 words from the English speaking world
– Pronunciation guide
– Etymology (the origin and the historical development
of a word)
– Definitions with thesaurus and categories
– Examples of words used in sentences
– Links to definitions in other dictionaries
– Available to us 24/7 both on or off campus
• Widely regarded as the authority on the English
Language
2
Expected Learning Outcomes
• The workshop attendees will be able to
– Find definitions, pronunciation, synonyms, and
etymology of a new word in OED and learn how the
word is used in sentences in different periods of time
– Browse the Historical Thesaurus to find related terms
or the lexical history of a word or concept
– Personalize the dictionary by creating a profile in
OED online, setting preferences in My OED, saving
the entries and searches conducted for future study
or review, and managing My OED, a personalized
dictionary within the dictionary
3
• Quick Search
• Browse Historical Thesaurus
• Develop Personal Profile
4
Quick Search
5
Choice of
display
Click to learn how to
pronounce the word
Abbreviation for Middle English
Word origin and development
6
Citation—Cont.
7
8
Abbreviation Symbols
• Available at the following websites:
– http://www.ks.uiuc.edu/~braun/personal/study/o
ed-abbr.html#m
– http://www.oed.com/public/abbreviations
9
Senses: Meanings recorded in a dictionary, etc.
Lemmas: A word, compound, phrase, or derivative—covered in a
dictionary entry
10
11
12
My OED: Potential Benefits
• http://www.oed.com/public/personalize/my-oed/
13
Learn More about the OED
• http://www.oed.com/public/whatis
14