The latest edition of the American Heritage Dictionary is out, and that's hot news--not just for the resolute followers of lexicographical minutiae, but for the general reading and writing public as well. Why? Because the American Heritage is a long-standing favorite family dictionary (never underestimate the value of pictures) and one of the prime dictionary references for magazines, newspapers, and dot.com content providers. For scads of writers and editors across the U.S., it sets the standard on matters of style and lexicographical authority.

So this new edition is exciting and noteworthy, but how good is it? In its favor, the fourth edition is as current a dictionary as you can get. It's six years fresher than the 1994 version, with 10,000 words and definitions you won't find in the still venerable but now slightly dated third edition. For example, unlike its predecessor (and also unlike the 1996 Oxford Encyclopedic English Dictionary), this fourth edition covers dot-com, e-commerce, and soccer mom, Ebonics, Viagra, and a surf definition for cruising television channels and the Internet.

Its panel of special consultants includes authorities on anthropology, architecture, cinema, and law, plus military science, music, religion, and sports, and that is reflected in an impressively comprehensive coverage of the arts, culture, and technology. Sadly, however, there are no medical consultants on the panel, and that loss is felt in some substandard medical definitions. Other flaws: there's a greater than usual tendency to define a word with a form of the same word--for example, fuzzy, whose first two definitions are "1. covered with fuzz." and "2. of or resembling fuzz." And some definitions seem needlessly wordy, such as the entry for furious, which is "full of or characterized by extreme anger; raging." Compare that with the more succinct Oxford Encyclopedic entry: "1. extremely angry. 2. full of fury."

On the other hand, there are valuable entries throughout the dictionary supplying additional information on synonyms, usage, or word history, and these extras, such as the history of diatribe and the usage notes on discomfit, are interesting. The layout is easy on the eyes, with dark blue/green bold type setting the words apart from their definitions, and 4,000 color photographs, maps, and illustrations that are both useful and delightful. On one page, the margin provides color depictions of Francis Bacon, bacterium, and a Bactrian camel. Theodore Roosevelt and a rooster share another margin, while a third page offers Isak Dinesen, a dingo, and dinoflagellate. It is a fascinating book to peruse, and a compellingly scholarly addition to the American Heritage Dictionary line. --Stephanie Gold


From Booklist
Ever since the furor in the U.S. that greeted Webster's Third New International Dictionary (1961) faded, it has become a given that dictionaries should be descriptive rather than prescriptive, a principle sanctified in Britain in the 1850s in Herbert Coleridge's original plan for the monumental project that eventually produced the Oxford English Dictionary. That dictionaries grow by gradual accretion of new words and new senses characterizes the latest edition of the American Heritage Dictionary (AHD), even if it, more than any other contemporary English-language dictionary, flirts with prescriptiveness in some of its usage notes.Reflecting trends in society since publication of the third edition (1992), the most visible additions to the lexicon come from technology. Hence AHD now includes the sense of dot as a synonym for period in computer jargon; a new techie sense for geek; and new entries for dot-com, e-commerce, HTML, HTTP, and URL. These are but a few of the 10,000 new senses or terms incorporated into this edition. Others (e.g., goth, personal watercraft, transgendered) come from the fields of pop culture, entertainment, sports, and business, to name a few.AHD shows two other, much more visible signs of its times. First, the thumbnail marginal illustrations have been transformed from black-and-white to color. This increases their clarity, their utility, and the value they add to definitions. Second, it comes in both print and CD-ROM formats.The CD-ROM (for Windows 95 through 2000 and NT and available for $24.95 if purchased alone) offers content almost identical to that of the print volume and many added features. Some of the illustrations in the print edition are absent from the CD (e.g., mackinaw). This is a small sacrifice for the far greater gains, one of which relates to illustrations. A search feature allows users to display only those terms that contain illustrations, and when any of these is displayed, its thumbnail illustration can be enlarged, offering even greater clarity than the color thumbnails on paper.Other features of the CD-ROM make it an attractive alternative to print, especially for personal use in situations in which it can reside more or less permanently on a PC's CD-ROM drive. A running list of entries in a frame to the left of the display window provides, with much greater precision than the printed dictionary's thumb indexing, quick access to a letter's section. In addition to the word search and A-Z scrolling display of all entries in that left-side window, the window's contents can be limited to display usage notes (usage, synonym, word histories, regional notes), Indo-European roots, Semitic roots, or (as noted) entries containing images. Most entries on the CD-ROM also include an audio icon that, when clicked, plays the word's pronunciation in an audible voice (for some words that of a male, for others that of a female). Just as the Webster's Tenth Collegiate Dictionary allows a toolbar link from Microsoft Word to the dictionary's contents, AHD provides this linkage through a right-mouse click.One other feature demonstrates the dictionary's sense of its times in the age of Internet filters and Dr. Laura controversies: when loading the CD-ROM, the user is asked whether to load the dictionary to include or exclude access to "vulgar" words. This is a latter-day sign of AHD's long willingness to apply usage labels more freely than most of its competitors. Taken by themselves, its usage labels (e.g., "slang," "vulgar") unquestionably appear to be prescriptive. However, when viewed in the context of the dictionary's usage notes, they soften and take on nuance. The usage notes depend heavily upon a large panel of writers and commentators representing diverse views. (What other group can claim both Harold Bloom and Roy Blount Jr and both Antonin Scalia and David Sedaris as members?) The notes convey the panel's uncertainties, disagreements, and qualifiers about how the words are and ought to be used. On the whole, AHD takes an old, inherently prescriptive dictionary device and uses it to describe the majority and minority opinions of a group of facile users of the language. A new category of notes, "Our Living Language," explains how language changes, for example, the reasons why the Ocracoke Island brogue is fading and the attempts to come up with euphemisms for the euphemism downsize. Approximately 1,800 notes of various sorts provide more context and more description than mere labels.When it comes to the things that users turn to a dictionary for most often--definitions, confirmation of spelling, pronunciation--AHD delivers as well as any other respected, respectable desk dictionary. Its definitions are clear and succinct, and they differentiate among senses of a word. Illustrations of words in sentences enhance selected definitions. A pronunciation key on every two-page spread of the print version is the next best thing to the audio on the CD-ROM.AHD long ago established itself as one of the standard American English dictionaries. Its improvements through expansion, refinement, and extension to the CD-ROM medium ensure its vitality and its value to a broad audience, from junior high on. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Review
"This new American Heritage is more suited to our national character than any other previous dictionary."
-- The New York Times Book Review



Book Description
The all-new Fourth Edition of the American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language offers more information about the language, in a more accessible format, than any other dictionary in its class. And its elegant, inviting design makes it the most handsome reference book on the market.Over 10,000 new words and senses. From slang and popular culture to the latest medical, high-tech, and scientific terms, the Fourth Edition's vocabulary has been thoroughly updated to reflect our constantly changing language. Fresh, full-color design. Over 4,000 full-color photographs, drawings, and maps enhance the Fourth Edition's definitions and make browsing irresistible.Trustworthy usage guidance. The American Heritage Dictionary has distinguished itself for decades by offering clear and comprehensive usage guidance. Hundreds of new and updated Usage Notes, based on the results of surveys sent to the more than 200 scholars and writers who comprise our Usage Panel, help you make informed decisions about usage questions you face every day. More in-depth note features than any other dictionary. Word Histories, Synonym Paragraphs, and Regional Notes explore the language in a breadth and depth unequaled by any other dictionary.All-new Our Living Language Notes. A fascinating new series of Notes illustrates how social factors such as age and ethnicity influence the way our language is shaped by speakers from all walks of life.Unrivaled biographies and geographies. The American Heritage® Dictionary has long been known for its expansive treatment of biographical and geographical entries. These informative capsule summaries have been thoroughly updated for the Fourth Edition.Two unique Appendixes. Discover the hidden connections between words in the newly expanded Appendix of Indo-European Roots and in the all-new Appendix of Semitic Roots. The Fourth Edition offers you the most thorough and intriguing view of the history of words to be found in any dictionary.


Book Info
A informative and comprehensive dictionary, with full color photos, illustrations, and maps, an appendix of Indo-European roots, an appendix of semantic roots, biographical and geographical entries, and more. The CD-ROM is a fully searchable, electronic version of the text. Text is also available without CD or solely as a CD. DLC: English language--Dictionaries.

FROM OUR EDITORS

As timely as it is timeless, The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language offers the most information about our language in the most accessible style and the most inviting design. The fourth edition combines exacting linguistic scholarship with creative innovations in the art of dictionary making. Whether it is the full-color illustration program, the usage advice of more than 200 experts -- including John Kenneth Galbraith, Rita Dove, Susan Sontag, Joan Didion, and Calvin Trillin -- or the varied and extensive notes, The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language gives you the resources you need to use the English language with accuracy and grace. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language is once again setting the standard in dictionary making in both print and electronic format. It's no wonder it is called an American classic.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition on CD-ROM offers all the features of its print counterpart and more. The Fourth Edition includes over 10,000 new words and senses, full etymologies, a revised Appendix of Indo-European Roots, and an all-new Appendix of Semitic Roots. It also includes an expansive note program: over 450 new and revised Usage Notes, 100 Regional Notes, and a new feature, Our Living Language Notes.

The new Fourth Edition on CD combines the innovation of the print dictionary with the ease and accessibility of an electronic format. Special features include:

· Over 1,000 color photographs, illustrations, and maps from the print edition

· Nearly 70,000 spoken pronunciations

· Definitions and usage instantly accessible by highlighting and right-clicking on words in any Microsoft Office application

· A simple search tool for finding the word you want, even if you don't know how to spell it

· Separately searchable indexes of all images and note features

Whatever your experience as a computer user may be, The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language on CD will help you discover the richness of the English language in ways you never have before.

Minimal System Requirements

· PC with Pentium 200 or higher processor· Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, or Windows 2000· 32 megabytes of RAM· Hard disk with at least 20 megabytes of free space· CD-ROM drive (or DVD-ROM drive)· Multimedia system with Microsoft Media Player for sound· SVGA 800 x 600 or higher resolution monitor· Mouse and Keyboard

SYNOPSIS

The American Heritage￯﾿ﾽ Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition on CD-ROM offers all the features of its print counterpart and more. The Fourth Edition includes over 10,000 new words and senses, full etymologies, a revised Appendix of Indo-European Roots, and an all-new Appendix of Semitic Roots. It also includes an expansive note program: over 450 new and revised Usage Notes, 100 Regional Notes, and a new feature, Our Living Language Notes. The new Fourth Edition on CD combines the innovation of the print dictionary with the ease and accessibility of an electronic format. Special features include: ￯﾿ﾽ Over 1,000 color photographs, illustrations, and maps from the print edition ￯﾿ﾽ Nearly 70,000 spoken pronunciations ￯﾿ﾽ Definitions and usage instantly accessible by highlighting and right-clicking on words in any Microsoft Office application ￯﾿ﾽ A simple search tool for finding the word you want, even if you don't know how to spell it ￯﾿ﾽ Separately searchable indexes of all images and note features Whatever your experience as a computer user may be, The American Heritage￯﾿ﾽ Dictionary of the English Language on CD will help you discover the richness of the English language in ways you never have before.

Minimal System Requirements ￯﾿ﾽ PC with Pentium￯﾿ﾽ 200 or higher processor ￯﾿ﾽ Windows￯﾿ﾽ 95, Windows￯﾿ﾽ 98, Windows NT￯﾿ﾽ, or Windows￯﾿ﾽ 2000 ￯﾿ﾽ 32 megabytes of RAM ￯﾿ﾽ Hard disk with at least 20 megabytes of free space ￯﾿ﾽ CD-ROM drive (or DVD-ROM drive) ￯﾿ﾽ Multimedia system with Microsoft Media Player for sound ￯﾿ﾽ SVGA 800 x 600 or higher resolution monitor ￯﾿ﾽ Mouse and Keyboard

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Since its 1969 first edition, the American Heritage has battled Webster's for desk, library and classroom space. Against its older rival, American Heritage boasts better looks, more frequent updates and a 200-member Usage Panel with verbal all-stars like novelists Alice Munro and Sherman Alexie. The third edition of the American Heritage appeared only in 1992; what's new about this edition? For one thing, 10,000 more words, frequently colloquial ones or new coinages; all dictionaries delete when they add, but here additions seem to outnumber cuts. Another new feature is color: with polychromatic photographs down broad margins, and entry words in greenish-black, the fourth edition looks like the well-dressed offspring of an older reference book and a Web site--an appearance likely to please younger users. The fourth does well with '90s cultural terms--"permatemp" and "McJob," "techno" and "indie" (rock). It's good with compounds, especially new ones--"celestial longitude," "jewel box" (for CDs), "crack baby," "poetry slam." Coverage of slang has also improved: the third made "dick" "a guy" and a male organ; the fourth gives the noun as an insult and five senses for "dick" as a verb. Occasional boxes offer long paragraphs on (for example) when and where "party" can mean "person," why the Usage Panel hates "hopefully," and the evolution of the word "circus." As in the third, a substantial appendix guides readers through Indo-European roots. American Heritage's examples and etymologies still can't compare to the Oxford English Dictionary--nor should they. Instead, the volume strikes a commendable, practical balance between depth of coverage and ease of use. (The CD-ROM contains all the text of the bound book, with less art, but also the words retired from the third edition; it can be purchased separately for $24.95.) (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

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