Teaching, Language & Reference
April 2007
WEBSTER'S STUDENT DICTIONARY & THESAURUS
by The Geddes & Grosset Editorial Team; Reader's Digest Editorial and Consultants
WEBSTER’S STUDENT DICTIONARY & THESAURUS Websterʼs Dictionary and Thesaurus, first produced by Geddes & Grosset for Books Are Fun / Reader’s Digest, USA in 2006 was one of the most successful reference volumes ever produced for sale in North America. The next commission (in 2007) for Geddes & Grosset was to produce a STUDENT DICTIONARY & THESAURUS for Reader’s Digest. Imagine having a dictionary and thesaurus that students consider not only invaluable but also interesting and easy to use. WEBSTER’S STUDENT DICTIONARY AND THESAURUS delivers all this and more. Within its covers you’ll find three must-have resources—a dictionary, thesaurus and phrasefinder, plus a current full-color atlas and history of the world, 50 U.S. state maps plus 10 maps of the Canadian provinces and territories, and a bounty of additional handy reference tools. ■ A dictionary of more than 15,000 entries and 35,000 definitions ■ A thesaurus and phrasefinder with 4,000 entries ■ 25,000 synonyms The dictionary contains more than 15,000 entries and offers 35,000 definitions of the words most likely to be encountered by any student, from the start of middle school through high school. Every entry offers definitions in plain, easy-to understand English; provides its parts of speech, origin, and abbreviations; and uses an example in a phrase that gives the word proper context. But there’s also an element that sets this book apart from other dictionaries: Each word is individually transcribed into an easy-to-follow syllable-based pronunciation. This is especially helpful for those words with silent letters and sneaky twists. Seeing “eccentricity” spelled out as “ek-sen-TRI-si-tee” results in an accurate sounding word—without the need for a key! The Thesaurus offers 4,000 entries and 25,000 synonyms as well as the source or origin of phrases and its parts of speech. As an added bonus, some entries include examples of the word used in a common phrase or English idiom. For example, the word chest is followed by the phrase “get (something) off one’s chest” as well as the meaning of the expression. also goes beyond helping with words. In one single volume, students will have at their fingertips: ■ U.S. state maps, illustrating cities and roads, as well as a fact sheet for each state that indicates population, physical description, climate, agriculture, industry, and history ■ Flags of the world in full color with helpful labels and thumbnail information for each country (with its area, population, capital, government, religions, and currency) ■ Detailed fact sheets and maps for the Canadian provinces and territories ■ Encyclopedic descriptions about epic movements and noted personalities who havechanged the course of history ■ The complete texts of the U.S. Constitution (followed by the Bill of Rights and other amendments) and the Declaration of Independence ■ List of U.S. presidents and Canadian prime ministers—their dates, terms, and political party ■ An appendix of weights and measures, from avoirdupois, metric, troy weight, linear, surveyor’s, cubic, liquid, and temperature,along with the International System of Units (SI Units) ■ Chemical elements listed by symbol ■ And more! With the help from the experts whose name is synonymous with “dictionary” in America, the WEBSTER’S STUDENT DICTIONARY AND THESAURUS will provide ready answers for your favorite student.
