ABSTRACT
The term ‘dictionary’ appears in the titles of a wide range of reference works, many of which are not strictly lexicographical. For example a ‘Dictionary of Quotations’ is usually a listing of famous or frequently-used quotations in alphabetical order based on a key word or words in each quotation. The term ‘dictionary’ is presumably used because the listing is alphabetical and there is some connection with words, but there is no lexicographical description as such. In looking at different dictionaries in this chapter we shall restrict ourselves to those that are lexicographical. A dictionary will therefore be taken to be an alphabetical listing of words with descriptive information about them, intended to be used for reference purposes. This definition still encompasses a wide range of publications, as you will see if you look at the appropriate shelves of your local bookshop.
