Derivative Entries and Base Word Entries . In tracing a derivative to its base or a compound to its elements, one must bear in mind that the form in which a word appears in its derivatives or in compounds may differ slightly from its independent original form. In the latter it may have a desinence which does not appear in the derived formation. When the base has no independent existence but occurs merely in derivatives or compounds, it is listed in hyphenated form with full indication of its function in other formations. Derivatives in which the base word appears in a form deviating by more than the absence of a termination are connected with the base by a reference entry.
Bracketed entries are words used in one of the major traditional auxiliary languages.
They are included in this Dictionary as being neither incompatible with its principles nor a necessary product of them.