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

  • @lemmy_outta_here
    link
    English
    108
    edit-2
    11 months 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

  • @TheGrandNagus
    link
    English
    82
    edit-2
    11 months 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
      link
      English
      3711 months 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.

      • @stoly
        link
        English
        1511 months ago

        A copy will literally fill a shelf. It comes in volumes with addenda releases periodically.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      9
      edit-2
      11 months ago

      I don’t think you can buy the book. It was 20 volumes in 1989, and they’ve been working on an ongoing update since then. There’s no plans to physically print a third edition.

      But yeah, it’s a serious scholarly resource, and they do put out free small dictionaries as well.

      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/

  • @KISSmyOS
    link
    English
    65
    edit-2
    11 months ago

    deleted by creator

    • @Donkter
      link
      English
      2511 months ago

      With ads! Wait, I also dislike those… They should figure it out for themselves!

  • @saltesc
    link
    English
    4211 months ago

    The OED has never been free. Go buy a copy and you’ll know why.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      1011 months 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.

      • @saltesc
        link
        English
        411 months ago

        I use Power Thesaurus lol

    • @grue
      link
      English
      1711 months ago

      Yep, only copyleft services (of which Wiktionary is one) can be trusted not to be paywalled or otherwise subverted in the long run.

  • zelifcam
    link
    English
    28
    edit-2
    11 months ago

    deleted by creator

  • @stoly
    link
    English
    1611 months ago

    Wasn’t it always a subscription? You really would only have easy access in a university library.

  • @Veedem
    link
    English
    1511 months ago

    It’s an extensively researched and informative book, much more so than other dictionaries. That information gathering process has to be paid for somehow.

    • Deceptichum
      link
      fedilink
      311 months ago

      And use the OED (Online Etymology Dictionary) for any etymological related queries.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    8
    edit-2
    11 months 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.

    • @Hawke
      link
      English
      6
      edit-2
      11 months ago

      one company

      It’s a good thing there are lots of other dictionaries than the OED then.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    8
    edit-2
    11 months ago

    This is why you should instead use Wiktionary and donate your child’s entire college fund to the Wikimedia foundation

  • Possibly linux
    link
    fedilink
    English
    711 months ago

    There are plenty of other dictionaries and some of them are made of something called paper.

  • @serpineslair
    link
    English
    611 months ago

    I personally use collins english dictionary. It’s the best online dictionary I’ve found (best descriptions).