Decoding Dictionary
Understanding the important elements of a dictionary
An English language skill seeker would never afford to ignore the importance of a dictionary. It is the most powerful tool in the way of learning English or any other language. The process of consulting dictionary is much deeper than what we do. It is not limited to see the desired meaning of the word, but it needs to be studied scientifically. Most of us even don’t know the core elements of a dictionary and hence, we can’t properly go through it. In this article, we are trying to learn the core aspects of a dictionary which we should be acquainted with.
Headword
Headwords are written on the top of the entry alphabetically. They are a reference point for the information about any word.
Pronunciation
Phonetic symbols or a pronunciation key that helps users correctly pronounce the word. This feature aids in achieving accurate spoken communication.
Part of Speech
An indication of the grammatical category to which the word belongs (e.g., noun, verb, adjective, adverb). It helps users understand the word’s syntactic role in sentences.
Guide words
They serve as a reference point to help users quickly locate the word they are looking for within the dictionary. Typically, there are two guide words on each page or column.
Definition
Clear and concise explanations of the word’s meanings. Multiple definitions are provided if the word has multiple senses or uses.
Usage Examples
Sentences or phrases that demonstrate how the word is used in context. Usage examples help users understand the word’s practical application.
Etymology
Information about the word’s origin, history, and linguistic roots. Etymology provides insights into the word’s development over time and its connections to other languages.
Abbreviations and Symbols
Explanation of abbreviations and symbols used in the dictionary, such as part-of-speech abbreviations, pronunciation symbols, and usage markers.
List of common abbreviation used in a dictionary
1. adj. : adjective
2. adv. : adverb
3. n. : noun
4. v. : verb
5. prep. : preposition
6. pron. : pronoun
7. conj. : conjunction
8. interj.: interjection
9. pl. : plural
10. sing. : singular
11. abbr. : abbreviation
12. def. : definition
13. syn. : synonym
14. ant. : antonym
15. cf. : compare
16. e.g. : for example
17. etc. : et cetera
18. i.e. : that is
19. cf. : confer
20. lit. : literally
21. fig. : figuratively
22. orig. : originally
23. pronun.: pronunciation
24. ETY : etymology
25. abbr.: abbreviation
26. usu. : usually
27. comp.: comparative
28. superl.: superlative
29. phr. : phrase
30. ex. : example
31. var. : variant
32. obsolete: no longer in use
33. archaic: old-fashioned
34. dialect.: dialectal
35. Skt. : Sanskrit
36. Fr. : French
37. L. : Latin
Darshana Patel | Tecaher at Nananpur Primary School, Prantij, Gujarat, India
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