Oxford English Dictionary

The Oxford English Dictionary is the most comprehensive dictionary of the English language. Use it to find the definition or etymology of a word or quotations that include particular words or phrases by a specific author.

 

Access Online Databases.

 

Access

1.  Go to Sullivan Family Library’s home page at   http://www.chaminade.edu/library

2.  Click on Search For, then Databases by Title

3. Select Oxford English Dictionary (under Books and Ebooks).

4.  Off campus access requires login with Chaminade ID and password.

 

Search - Find Word

 

1.  Type your word in the Find Word box.

2.  Click

3. A single result, or list of results, will display.

4.  Click on your result.

 

Search - Simple

1.  Full text search using    button (bottom of screen).

 

2.  Search box will appear on left side

3.  Type in the word or phrase you want to find.

4. Select in:

• Full text
• First cited date
• First cited author
• First cited work
• Definitions
• Etymologies
• Language names
• Quotations
• Quotation date
• Quotation author
• Quotation works
• Quotation text

5.  Click on Start Search

6.  For proximity searching, click on [More options].

• Search for two words or phrases near each other.
• Type the word you want to find in the Search for box.
• Choose your search area from the list box showing full text.
• Type your second word into the bottom box.
• Choose from the list box the maximum number of words you want your terms to be separated by (default 1 word).
• Click Start Search.
• Click on entry in results list.

 

Search – Advanced

1.  Click on     (bottom of screen)

2.  Search for  Entries or Quotations

3. Type in search term(s) and search area.

4.  Select Boolean operator (AND, OR, AND NOT, NEAR, NOT NEAR).

5.  Select Options:

• Case-sensitive searching
• Exact character searching
• Options for NEAR/NOT NEAR
• Order of operations
• Research search to results of
• Part of speech filter

6.  Click on Start Search.

7.  Previous searches are shown on the bottom of the screen.

 

Other Searches

1.   Browse

• Entry list (side-frame)
• Cross reference link

 2.  Words that Rhyme

• Use the International Phonetic Alphabet in OED Online's Help.
• Enter the part of the word you want to rhyme and select "pronunciations."

 

Search Tips

*	Occurrence of any number of characters	work* To find all words and phrases beginning with work (work, worker, working, workplace, etc.) p*t To find pat, paint, pragmatist, etc.
?	Single occurrence of any character Use one ? for each unknown letter	p?t To find pat, pet, pit, pot, put p??t To find past, peat, pint, etc.
	Accents are ignored
	Hyphens are treated as spaces
	Not case sensitive

Results

1.  Select tab:

• Pronunciation
• Spelling
• Etymology
• Quotations
• Date Chart

2.  Sort by (bottom left):

• Entry name
• Entry date
• Quotation date

3.  Bookmark entry

4. 

5. 

     Emails link to entry (available for three days)

 

Help

• Quick Reference Guide
• Tour of OED Online

Reference Desk   739-4660

Email    library@chaminade.edu

 

Updated February 2009