The Chambers Dictionary (TCD) was first published by William and Robert Chambers as Chambers's English Dictionary in 1872. It was an expanded version of Chambers's Etymological Dictionary of 1867, compiled by James Donald. A second edition came out in 1898, and was followed in 1901 by a new compact edition called Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary.[1]
TCD is widely used by British crossword solvers and setters, and by Scrabble players (though it is no longer the official Scrabble dictionary). It contains many more dialectal, archaic, unconventional and eccentric words than its rivals, and is noted for its occasional wryly humorous definitions. Examples of such definitions include those for éclair ("a cake, long in shape but short in duration") and middle-aged ("between youth and old age, variously reckoned to suit the reckoner").[2] These jocular definitions were removed by the publisher in the 1970s, but many of them were reinstated in 1983 because of the affection in which they were held by readers.
The twelfth edition of The Chambers Dictionary was published in August 2011 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd and runs to 1936 pages with 62,500 main entries.[3] This edition is available for mobile use as an iPhone, iPad, or Android app. That has been followed by the thirteenth edition published in 2014. Also on sale is the smaller 21st Century Dictionary of 1664 pages, where "the focus is on the English that people use today, and definitions are given in straightforward, accessible language". This dictionary can be accessed for free online.
In an agreement with Mattel's predecessor, J. W. Spear & Sons, the Chambers Dictionary was, for several decades, the official source of words for the book Official Scrabble Words (OSW), a lexicon of all words and inflections playable in tournament Scrabble within the UK and other countries such as New Zealand and Australia. In 2005, Mattel changed the source dictionary to Collins English Dictionary.
^Words, Wit and Wisdom: 100 Years of the Chambers Dictionary, compiled by Ian Brookes, Jamie Nathan and Hazel Norris. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2001. ISBN0-550-10015-6.
^Manley, Don (2001) [1986]. "The Basic Advanced Cryptic Crossword". Chambers Crossword Manual (Third ed.). Edinburgh: Chambers. p. 91. ISBN0-550-12006-8. If you pause to read Chambers while solving a puzzle, you may also find some quirky definitions in the best Johnsonian tradition: try ECLAIR and MIDDLE AGE for example.
^Kaminski, Mariusz (2013). A History of the Chambers Dictionary. Walter de Gruyter. pp. 95–96. ISBN9783110312737.
External linksedit
Official website
Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd
Chambers's Etymological Dictionary of the English Language
chambers, dictionary, first, published, william, robert, chambers, chambers, english, dictionary, 1872, expanded, version, chambers, etymological, dictionary, 1867, compiled, james, donald, second, edition, came, 1898, followed, 1901, compact, edition, called,. The Chambers Dictionary TCD was first published by William and Robert Chambers as Chambers s English Dictionary in 1872 It was an expanded version of Chambers s Etymological Dictionary of 1867 compiled by James Donald A second edition came out in 1898 and was followed in 1901 by a new compact edition called Chambers s Twentieth Century Dictionary 1 TCD is widely used by British crossword solvers and setters and by Scrabble players though it is no longer the official Scrabble dictionary It contains many more dialectal archaic unconventional and eccentric words than its rivals and is noted for its occasional wryly humorous definitions Examples of such definitions include those for eclair a cake long in shape but short in duration and middle aged between youth and old age variously reckoned to suit the reckoner 2 These jocular definitions were removed by the publisher in the 1970s but many of them were reinstated in 1983 because of the affection in which they were held by readers The twelfth edition of The Chambers Dictionary was published in August 2011 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd and runs to 1936 pages with 62 500 main entries 3 This edition is available for mobile use as an iPhone iPad or Android app That has been followed by the thirteenth edition published in 2014 Also on sale is the smaller 21st Century Dictionary of 1664 pages where the focus is on the English that people use today and definitions are given in straightforward accessible language This dictionary can be accessed for free online Contents 1 Scrabble 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksScrabble editSee also SOWPODS In an agreement with Mattel s predecessor J W Spear amp Sons the Chambers Dictionary was for several decades the official source of words for the book Official Scrabble Words OSW a lexicon of all words and inflections playable in tournament Scrabble within the UK and other countries such as New Zealand and Australia In 2005 Mattel changed the source dictionary to Collins English Dictionary See also editChambers s Encyclopaedia William Chambers Robert Chambers Chambers Harrap PublishersReferences edit Words Wit and Wisdom 100 Years of the Chambers Dictionary compiled by Ian Brookes Jamie Nathan and Hazel Norris Edinburgh Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd 2001 ISBN 0 550 10015 6 Manley Don 2001 1986 The Basic Advanced Cryptic Crossword Chambers Crossword Manual Third ed Edinburgh Chambers p 91 ISBN 0 550 12006 8 If you pause to read Chambers while solving a puzzle you may also find some quirky definitions in the best Johnsonian tradition try ECLAIR and MIDDLE AGE for example Kaminski Mariusz 2013 A History of the Chambers Dictionary Walter de Gruyter pp 95 96 ISBN 9783110312737 External links editOfficial website Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd Chambers s Etymological Dictionary of the English Language 1st edition impressions 1867 1872 1874 1875 1876 2nd edition impressions 1900 Chambers s English Dictionary 1872 Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary A 1903 impression Chambers Dictionary History and Trivia including some of the famous Chambersisms Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chambers Dictionary amp oldid 1156105660, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
