i’ve never been on this site before – that is to say, you don’t even get like a couple free words

what a joke

  • letsgo@lemm.eeEnglish
    01·
    1 year ago

    It works OK for me, but I’m in the UK so maybe it’s subscription only for foreigners.

  • beatensoup@baraza.africaEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Here is an alternative that aggregates from multiple sources: https://www.thefreedictionary.com/

    While I do not oppose paying for definitions, there is someone confusing about collectively generated meaning being aggregated and packaged by one company for profit. A publicly maintained dictionary is a much much better alternative. I guarantee it would be more versatile and rigorous than this Oxford stuff.

  • TheGrandNagus@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    You can still buy the book or access the site via most libraries.

    I get that it’s a bit annoying, but I’m guessing you’d also be annoyed about an ad-ridden, data-harvesting dictionary.

    The Oxford English Dictionary is without a doubt the most well-researched, comprehensive, and linguistically complete English dictionary on Earth, bar none. Nothing even comes close to its depth and scope.

    It perhaps is the most well-researched and comprehensive dictionary of all languages, but I wouldn’t know.

    It’s laid out in an unusual way and even has words and alternate meanings that haven’t been used for centuries. It’s not meant to be a general-purpose dictionary, it’s niche and predominantly for linguistic experts or people fascinated by language.

    An unbelievable amount of research goes into it, and those people deserve to be paid.

    There are dozens of freely-available general-purpose dictionaries out there if you want them.

    • NevermindNoMind@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      I was annoyed, like the OP, then I read your comment and now I’m impressed and have an urge to buy a copy of OED I most certainly will never open. They owe you a commission on my sale.

    • brbposting@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      In spite of the undeniable truth that the Oxford English Dictionary is a magnificent and exhaustive source of information on the etymology and meaning of the English language, it is my personal inclination to favor their compendium of synonyms and antonyms, which I prefer to other possibilities for their rich collection of words with similar or opposite meanings.

  • where_am_i@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    01·
    1 year ago

    If the dictionary was free for all, how do you, OP, envision it would finance itself.

    Specifically: hosting, web design, keeping the dictionary up to date (new words, linguistic shift, new entomological research etc).

    Please, elaborate. Until then you’re a choosing beggar.

  • boyi@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    One way to get access to OED ODE without paying a cent is by using kindle app. When you highlight an English word, if will open the dict. You can search for any word from there.

  • lemmy_outta_here@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Hi! With the OED, it has been like that at least since I started university in 2007. However, lots of public libraries have subscriptions. I just go to my library website, login, and follow the link to the OED. There are many other reference tools that are also included in my library card. Libraries rule!

    Edit: you can check merriam-webster for free, I think