Introduction to theIntroduction to the

Oxford English DictionaryOxford English Dictionary

Spartanburg Community College Library Spartanburg Community College Library

The OEDThe OED what it looks like:what it looks like:

TheThe OED OED - what it is:- what it is: Authoritative 20 volume work on the evolution Authoritative 20 volume work on the evolution

of the English language- from 1150 a.d. to of the English language- from 1150 a.d. to modern timesmodern times

Gives history, meaning and pronunciation of Gives history, meaning and pronunciation of wordswords

Gives examples of words used in context, from Gives examples of words used in context, from the first known recorded occurrence to the the first known recorded occurrence to the present daypresent day

Gives definitions of over half a million wordsGives definitions of over half a million words Available in your library’s reference sectionAvailable in your library’s reference section

STC Library call number: PE1625 .O87 1989 STC Library call number: PE1625 .O87 1989

The OED-The OED- why it is why it is important:important:

Words become outdated or obsolete- Words become outdated or obsolete- “fireplug,” “icebox”“fireplug,” “icebox”

Words end up with multiple Words end up with multiple meanings over time– “mouse” meanings over time– “mouse”

Meaning of words change- “gay” Meaning of words change- “gay” Words mean different things in Words mean different things in

different areas of the world. For different areas of the world. For example……example……

Waltzing MatildaWaltzing MatildaThe “unofficial” national anthem of The “unofficial” national anthem of

AustraliaAustralia Once a jolly swagman sat beside the billabong,Once a jolly swagman sat beside the billabong,

Under the shade of a coolibah tree,Under the shade of a coolibah tree,And he sang as he sat and waited by the billabongAnd he sang as he sat and waited by the billabong

You'll come a waltzing matilda with meYou'll come a waltzing matilda with me

Waltzing matilda, waltzing matildaWaltzing matilda, waltzing matildaYou'll come a waltzing matilda with meYou'll come a waltzing matilda with me

And he sang as he sat and waited by the billabongAnd he sang as he sat and waited by the billabongYou'll come a waltzing matilda with me.You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.

Down came a jumbuck to drink beside the billabongDown came a jumbuck to drink beside the billabongUp jumped the swagman and seized him with gleeUp jumped the swagman and seized him with glee

And he sang as he tucked jumbuck in his tuckerbagAnd he sang as he tucked jumbuck in his tuckerbagYou'll come a waltzing matilda with meYou'll come a waltzing matilda with me

Waltzing matilda, waltzing matildaWaltzing matilda, waltzing matildaYou'll come a waltzing matilda with meYou'll come a waltzing matilda with me

And he sang as he sat and waited by the billabongAnd he sang as he sat and waited by the billabongYou'll come a waltzing matilda with me.You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.

Down came the stockman, riding on his thoroughbred,Down came the stockman, riding on his thoroughbred,Down came the troopers, one, two, three.Down came the troopers, one, two, three.

"Where's the jolly jumbuck you've got in your tuckerbag?"Where's the jolly jumbuck you've got in your tuckerbag?You'll come a waltzing matilda with meYou'll come a waltzing matilda with me

Waltzing matilda, waltzing matildaWaltzing matilda, waltzing matildaYou'll come a waltzing matilda with meYou'll come a waltzing matilda with me

And he sang as he sat and waited by the billabongAnd he sang as he sat and waited by the billabongYou'll come a waltzing matilda with me.You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.

Up jumped the swagman and plunged into the billabong,Up jumped the swagman and plunged into the billabong,"You'll never catch me alive," cried he"You'll never catch me alive," cried he

And his ghost may be heard as you ride beside the billabong,And his ghost may be heard as you ride beside the billabong,You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.

In Australia, “waltzing In Australia, “waltzing Matilda” means to go Matilda” means to go “walkabout” looking for a “walkabout” looking for a job with your bedrolljob with your bedroll

So, if someone in Australia So, if someone in Australia asks you to go waltzing with asks you to go waltzing with them, bring hiking boots them, bring hiking boots instead of dancing shoes!instead of dancing shoes!

Tip to help you with the Tip to help you with the OED: OED:

Use the “List of Use the “List of Abbreviations” Abbreviations” The OED uses a lot of The OED uses a lot of

abbreviationsabbreviations

At the front of each volume, At the front of each volume, there is a “List of there is a “List of Abbreviations, Signs, Etc.” Abbreviations, Signs, Etc.” Use it to help you interpret Use it to help you interpret entries in the OEDentries in the OED

You might want to make a copy You might want to make a copy

of it so you can have the list of it so you can have the list nearby as you use the nearby as you use the dictionarydictionary

Now let’s look at the two main Now let’s look at the two main types of entries in the OED…types of entries in the OED…

Two Types of EntriesTwo Types of Entries

#1 Cross-reference #1 Cross-reference entries refer you to entries refer you to another definitionanother definition

AND…AND…

#2 Main Entries (the most #2 Main Entries (the most common)common)

Note: There may be more than one entry for a word, and each Note: There may be more than one entry for a word, and each entry may have more than one definition. For example: This entry may have more than one definition. For example: This

page has 5 “hulks.” “Hulk” #1 has three definitions attached page has 5 “hulks.” “Hulk” #1 has three definitions attached to it. The older the word, the more definitions. to it. The older the word, the more definitions.

Why more than one entry? Why more than one entry? Because different forms of the word may Because different forms of the word may

develop separately from each other:develop separately from each other:

The 4 Main Parts of an The 4 Main Parts of an EntryEntry

#1. Identification: includes the word itself, #1. Identification: includes the word itself, the part of speech, status label(s) and variant the part of speech, status label(s) and variant spellingsspellings

#2 Etymology and form history of the word: #2 Etymology and form history of the word: usually in bracketsusually in brackets

#3- Signification: the definition(s) of the word#3- Signification: the definition(s) of the word #4. Illustrative Quotations: examples of how #4. Illustrative Quotations: examples of how

the word was used from first known recorded the word was used from first known recorded occurrence onward. Includes date of occurrence onward. Includes date of publication, author, and text of quotationspublication, author, and text of quotations

#1 The Identification#1 The Identification Dagger means this form of Dagger means this form of

the word is obsolete and the word is obsolete and no longer in use in the no longer in use in the English languageEnglish language

Main form of word: “hulk” Main form of word: “hulk” Pronunciation: “hAlk”Pronunciation: “hAlk” Part of speech:“sb.” which Part of speech:“sb.” which

is short for “substantive,” is short for “substantive,” another word for “noun”.another word for “noun”.

Labels: “Obs.”obsolete and Labels: “Obs.”obsolete and “dial.” dialect. “dial.” dialect.

Forms: “1 hulc, 4-hulk,” Forms: “1 hulc, 4-hulk,” etc. are alternate spellings etc. are alternate spellings of the word and when they of the word and when they were used. 1 means “before were used. 1 means “before 1100,” 4 stands for the 1100,” 4 stands for the “14“14thth century,” etc. century,” etc.

Use the “List of Use the “List of Abbreviations” to help you Abbreviations” to help you interpret labels and parts interpret labels and parts of speech. of speech.

#2 The Etymology and #2 The Etymology and Form HistoryForm History

Usually in brackets. It tells Usually in brackets. It tells where the word came from, where the word came from, how its form (spelling) evolved how its form (spelling) evolved over history, and information over history, and information such as the language(s) the such as the language(s) the word evolved from. word evolved from.

For example,, this entry of For example,, this entry of “hulk” came from the Old “hulk” came from the Old English (OE.) word “hulc,” but English (OE.) word “hulc,” but before that, it came from such before that, it came from such languages such as Old French languages such as Old French (OF.) and various strains of (OF.) and various strains of German (MLG, OHG, and German (MLG, OHG, and MHG). But the word originally MHG). But the word originally came from a Greek word came from a Greek word meaning “a ship that is towed.”meaning “a ship that is towed.”

You will definitely need the You will definitely need the “List of Abbreviations” for this “List of Abbreviations” for this section!section!

#3 Signification: the definitions, notice this entry for #3 Signification: the definitions, notice this entry for “hulk” has 4 main definitions, and definition 4 “hulk” has 4 main definitions, and definition 4

subdivides into “a” and “b.” subdivides into “a” and “b.”

#4 –Illustrative quotations: these are listed after each #4 –Illustrative quotations: these are listed after each definition in a smaller font. They may look funny definition in a smaller font. They may look funny

because they keep the original spelling. At least one because they keep the original spelling. At least one quotation is given for each century, and they are quotation is given for each century, and they are

arranged chronologically. Note: under definition #4, arranged chronologically. Note: under definition #4, Shakespeare is first know author to use hulk meaning Shakespeare is first know author to use hulk meaning

“a big unwieldy person.” Incredible, no? “a big unwieldy person.” Incredible, no?

Now use the OED Now use the OED to help you analyze to help you analyze Margaret Atwood’s Margaret Atwood’s Poem “You Fit into Poem “You Fit into Me”Me”

You Fit into Me You Fit into Me by Margaret Atwoodby Margaret Atwood

You fit into me You fit into me Like a hook into an eyeLike a hook into an eye

Let’s pick a word that affects Let’s pick a word that affects the over-all meaning of the the over-all meaning of the poem…poem…

You Fit into Me You Fit into Me by Margaret Atwoodby Margaret Atwood

You fit into me You fit into me

Like a Like a hookhook into an eyeinto an eye

Now let’s look it up in the Now let’s look it up in the OED…OED…

The first entry for the word is a general The first entry for the word is a general definition for the word “hook.” Let’s see if we definition for the word “hook.” Let’s see if we can find something more specific that will fit can find something more specific that will fit

with the reference to “eye.”with the reference to “eye.”

Def. 5 seems to fit the bestDef. 5 seems to fit the best—but note the “See also” —but note the “See also”

reference.reference.

““hook and eye” presents the idea hook and eye” presents the idea of two things that connect and fit of two things that connect and fit

together. So…together. So…

You Fit into Me You Fit into Me by Margaret Atwoodby Margaret Atwood

You fit into me You fit into me Like a hook into an eyeLike a hook into an eye

A “hook and eye” creates an image of A “hook and eye” creates an image of two things that are made to fit two things that are made to fit together. Therefore, this is a very together. Therefore, this is a very romantic image. But let’s look at romantic image. But let’s look at the rest of the poem… the rest of the poem…

You Fit into Me You Fit into Me by Margaret Atwoodby Margaret Atwood

You fit into me You fit into me Like a hook into an eyeLike a hook into an eye

A fish hookA fish hookan open eyean open eye

You Fit into Me You Fit into Me by Margaret Atwoodby Margaret Atwood

You fit into me You fit into me Like a hook into Like a hook into

an eyean eye

A fish hookA fish hookan open eyean open eye

Not the hook and eye we thought! Not the hook and eye we thought! In the poem, Atwood plays on the In the poem, Atwood plays on the general definition of “hook.” The general definition of “hook.” The reader assumes lines 1 and 2 refer reader assumes lines 1 and 2 refer to a “hook and eye”— a romantic to a “hook and eye”— a romantic image. However, in the last 2 image. However, in the last 2 lines, the poet clarifies exactly the lines, the poet clarifies exactly the type of hook she was referring to. type of hook she was referring to. Fishhooks and eyeballs were never Fishhooks and eyeballs were never meant to go together! Therefore, meant to go together! Therefore, these 2 lines undercut what we these 2 lines undercut what we thought was going on in the first thought was going on in the first two lines! The image changes two lines! The image changes

fromfrom romantic to painful.romantic to painful.

For Further ReadingFor Further Reading

Berg, Donna Lee. Berg, Donna Lee. A Guide to the Oxford English Dictionary: The Essential A Guide to the Oxford English Dictionary: The Essential Companion’s User GuideCompanion’s User Guide. Oxford: Oxford University Press: 1993. Print. . Oxford: Oxford University Press: 1993. Print. Ref Ref PE1617.O94 B47 1993PE1617.O94 B47 1993

Gives in-depth breakdown of the different types of information available in the Gives in-depth breakdown of the different types of information available in the dictionary.dictionary.

Winchester, Simon. Winchester, Simon. The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English DictionaryDictionary.. New New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2003. Print. York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2003. Print. Ref PE1617 .O94 W56 2003Ref PE1617 .O94 W56 2003

Tells the eventful, personality-filled story of the making of the OED. Tells the eventful, personality-filled story of the making of the OED.

Winchester, SimonWinchester, Simon. The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and . The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionarythe Making of the Oxford English Dictionary. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, . New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1998. Print. 1998. Print. PE1617 .O94 W56 1998PE1617 .O94 W56 1998

Tells about the making of the OED. Also gives fascinating story of a Dr. Minor, one Tells about the making of the OED. Also gives fascinating story of a Dr. Minor, one of the volunteer contributors to the dictionary who also happened to be criminally of the volunteer contributors to the dictionary who also happened to be criminally insane.insane.

Any Questions?Any Questions?Contact Ask-A-LibrarianContact Ask-A-Librarianhttp://library.sccsc.edu/askalib.htm (864) 592-4654 (864) 592-4654

The End!!!The End!!!