When doing research on a topic, you will often encounter unfamiliar terms or familiar phrases used in a specialized way. Dictionaries can provide a quick definition and often some elaboration on the uses of the term. Specialized dictionaries usually contain more comprehensive and more detailed definitions than those found in general dictionaries, and they emphasize the unique vocabulary appropriate to a field. Specialized dictionaries can be found through the Myrin Bibliographic System online catalog . Enter a specialized area as a subject heading, followed by a space and dictionaries.
Historical dictionaries trace the evolution of word meanings through time.