The Chambers Dictionary, 13th Edition

Short of the Oxford English Dictionary Online, which is excellent but requires a somewhat expensive annual subscription, The Chambers Dictionary is the must-have reference for those who work with the English language on a daily basis. This 13th edition comes with the usual informative sections on the history of the English language, the varieties of English, using the dictionary, spelling rules, etc etc. But the gem is the final essay entitled "The Word Lover's Ramble" by Trevor Barnes, dated 2014, an essay based on research into every edition of Chambers starting from 1871, which highlights fascinating historical trivia on words and how they have changed their meaning over time.

I recently read an Inspector Morse novel in which he mentioned the Chambers Dictionary as his go to dictionary. Well, being a long time dictionary fan, I decided to get a second hand edition. I paid $8 and I love this dictionary. So much so that I had to buy this new latest edition. This is a great dictionary.

Very beautiful condition. Nice work.

I'm a "words" person and crossword enthusiast. I bought my original Chambers dictionary a very long time ago, because so many puzzles seemed to recommend it. I loved it. I have have long yearned for a new copy, but - apart from guilt over the expense - was concerned that, as with so many products, the new version would be inferior to the old. My fears were unjustified. I'm delighted with the current edition - the content seems equally comprehensive and it's larger than my old one, so easier for my aging eyes to read! I use online dictionaries for quick checks, but when I want detailed information or - as often happens - am checking for more obscure words, I turn to my new edition of Chambers. I love it! (Not, of course, that I can bear to jettison my old, dog-eared, coverless friend. Yet. If ever.... )

This is indeed the 2016 Revised 13th Edition of the Chambers Dictionary, true to its ad description. Pros: 1. Includes "enriching words" as promised. No page missing. 2. It features modern terms like bitcoin, twerk, troll, and selfie. 3. Well-built construction with a sewn and glued spine. 4. Offers supplementary materials and charts, including the Word Lover's Ramble. 5. Single words or detailed definitions like an unabridged dictionary are used, including occasional witty ones (eg, see photo for definitions of boy band, boy racer.) 6. Includes brand names (eg, Harley Davidson) Cons: 1. The font is a good size but it's so thin and there's a bit of ghosting due to the low opacity of the paper. 2. No photos, maps, or illustrations. No names of persons or places. 3. The sense division using semi-colons can be confusing. The paper, though thin, works quite well being painted with a dilution of acrylic paint and water (50/50) without sticking and getting soggy. I painted it red since I observed that super tiny bugs are attracted to plain white edges but avoided speckled edges and painted edges. It was shipped and sold by amazon and delivered ahead of schedule, which was great. One can only hope that future editions of Chambers Dictionary will use better paper and typeface worthy of its renown.

I have been taking a look at it and it seems to be a great dictionary. Its definitions are concise and witty. I believe I did the right thing when I bought it.

This dictionary is just what I wanted. A large compendium of words, print large enough to see, and not so big and unwieldly that I couldn't lift it. Yes it leans towards British words but they always point you to an American equivalent word which is also found in this dictionary. The definitions are also more easily understood than those found in the standard American dictionaries. If an American dictionary would be made with the same size, weight, clarity, and cost as this one, I'd buy it. Unfortunately, I haven't found one yet.

Yes, every obscure Scots word and Spenserian hapax legomenon can be found here. If you want to know the difference between reest(1) , reest(2), and reest(3), then Chambers will set you straight. I had been using the OED, but Chambers is briefer and more to the point if you're just trying to find an obscure word with its basic meaning. The cross-references of variant spellings are given in the proper alphabetical location, so you won't have to guess if you're looking for something like torret or wesand - they're right there where you would expect to find them..

Best dictionary ever! Why? LOOK INSIDE and you will know!! GROSS - SCHWER - UMFANGREICH - INFORMATIV! Ein Fünf-Sterne Wörterbuch von Chambers eben! Kompliment an alle, die ein solches Meisterwerk ermöglicht haben. (Und wollen wir hoffen, dass es auch in Zukunft solche textlichen Referenzwerke geben möge.)

He tenido ya varias ediciones del Chambers y lo considero el mejor diccionario monolingüe compacto. Viene en un solo tomo y contiene muchísimas entradas de la cultura reciente y popular, además de muchas palabras del inglés más antiguo. Imprescindible para cualquier persona que use el inglés profesionalmente (traductores, profesores de inglés, filólogos, periodistas en lengua inglesa...). Lo recomiendo sin ninguna duda después de usarlo ya bastantes años.

Dictionnaire en très bon état. Il manque toutefois 4 pages entre les pages 680 et 689, je pense que c'est un problème lié à l'imprimerie, car les pages ne sont pas arrachées.

Happy about the purchase

I am delighted with the quality of the revised 13th. edition. It includes all words omitted from the original 13th. edition and I think that it is a wonderfully thorough reference work. Kudos to Chambers for producing such a beautiful book - you can literally feel the weight of knowledge it contains.