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Oxford English Dictionary

More than a dictionary, the OED is a comprehensive guide to current and historical word meanings in English.

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is widely accepted as the most complete record of the English language ever assembled.

Unlike typical language dictionaries, which only define words in terms of their current uses and meanings, the OED is a historical dictionary. Each entry lists a word's changing meanings (including those now obsolete), and illustrates those changes with quotations from literary texts and other historical records.

For American English, see the Dictionary of American Regional English.

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