Lost for Words?

I often wonder how a single word may have multiple meanings and how words gain new meanings over time. Let us take the word “cool”: According to “Oxford English Dictionary” the word  has been used in at least 227 different ways.

Whether I need the definition of a word, want to play a daily crossword or must crack an anagram, I always keep my copy of  “Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary,“ published in 1963, at an arm's length at home. I have to admit that though the  old dictionary has great sentimental value, I find myself relying a lot more on the St. Louis County Library’s online version of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).

I know that I will not find the verb “Google” in my old dictionary, nor do I want to replace my dictionary every few years. So I chose the online version because it is accurate and easy to search, and it is at my fingertips rather that at my arms length.

We still have dictionaries at all of our branches, and customers can certainly check them out, yet if you have a chance, just try the St. Louis County Library online version of OED. Not only can one browse through the 227 meanings of the word “cool,” but one can also explore its origin, subject usage and more in its most updated version.

--Roz, Jamestown Bluffs Branch