Oxford English Dictionary
Also known as OED, Oxford dictionary, OED Online, The Oxford English Dictionary, A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles, NED
premier historical dictionary of the English language
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The Oxford English Dictionary is the most authoritative historical dictionary of English, documenting how words have been used and their meanings have changed over time. It matters because it serves as the definitive reference for understanding the English language's development and the precise meanings of words across centuries.
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The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is the principal historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press (OUP), a University of Oxford publishing house. The dictionary, which began publication in 1884, traces the historical development of the English language, providing a comprehensive resource to scholars and academic researchers, and provides ongoing descriptions of English language usage in its variations around the world.
Work began on the dictionary in 1857, although publication did not commence until 1884. The work then began to be issued incrementally in unbound fascicles (instalments), as work continued on other parts of the project. The original title was A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles; Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by The Philological Society. In 1895, the title The Oxford English Dictionary was first used unofficially on the covers of the series, and in 1928 the full dictionary was republished in 10 bound volumes.