Longman Dictionary of the English Language

This revised edition explains the subtleties of the English language. It is based on the analysis of many millions of words from the computerized Lancaster Corpus which is updated daily with new words sent in by members of the public as part of the Wordwatch scheme. Over 220,000 meanings, including 6000 new words are contained here, together with word histories and etymologies, 400 detailed notes explaining the difference between synonyms, and 600 notes on correct usage. Examples, including quotations from major writers such as Joseph Conrad, James Joyce and Samuel Johnson are featured, as well as biographies plus entries for mythological characters, geographical information, and a pronunciation system.