The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-11-20
now To USE A DICTIONARY.
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What is a A dictionary is a book
Dictionary? containing the words
OF any language, some
times together with their equivalents
in another language, or the words
! employed in any science or art, 81
special branch of knowledge, ar
ranged alphabetically, and usually,
also. with the spelling, pronuncla-
,tion. etvmology and definition OF
words. together with other eXplana-
tory or illustrative features. IL j. q
stprel.ouSe OF words and explana.
tions thereof.
Who Uses a Anybody of any Ian
Dictionary? guage, who employs
words to express his
thoughts, and to understand the
Thoughts of others, uses a diction-
airy.
Why do We Use We use dictior
Dictionary airy, because die
tionary Is expected
Ito tell what words and phrases
mean. rs used by representative
writers and speakers, and Is sup
posed to be an inventory OF the Ian
yuage in use at the time we consult
the dictionary. An ideal dictionary
will be book of HELPFULNEsS, To
enable Us 10 express our thoughts
in language as ii is in usage, and t.
aid u to understand the thought,
IF others in language, a il Is, o.
was. in usage. \ perfect diction-
lrv omits no word found in a living
book-whose meaning we are likely
10 seek.
What Are the The requisites OF
Requisites of an an ideal dictionary
Ideal Dictionary? are hardness, dur
ableness, conven
fence, helpfulness, reliableness, and
completeness.
Hardness. The material features
Durabeness. of a dictionary ought
Convenience. to be such, that it is
easily handled, that i'll
is durable when in use, and that III
l. convenient to the user. The
IDEAL dictionary is compact, com
plete, one-volume book, in which |
the makeup consists of the best
paper, the finest illustrations and I
plates, the most convenient ar
rangement of the contents, ana the
most durable binding. To this |
should be added a Denison's refer
ence index. Such a dictionary, if
kept on a separate table or diction-
arv stand, leaves nothing to be de-
sired as to handhess, drunkenness,
and convenience. The finical
fellow wants his dictionary in two
volumes, in full Morocco binding
on a two-volume antique bronze
stand, but he makes only
an ornamental gain. The hyper
critical person demands a six-vol-
lme dictionary, but he loses in
hardness and convenience, what he
gains in volume.
ieIpfuIness. The possessor of a
Usefulness, Standard dictionary
2eIiabIeness. knows it to be help
ful, useful, reliable
and complete, and,
therefore, owns, enjoys, controls !,
and uses his dictionary as the mis-
tress of his mind. 1t is his con-
slant companion, his faithful friend,
his reliable ally, and his complete
helper. He reads his dictionary a.
he would a novel, a romance, a
history, book of arts, volume OF
science, and he finds it to be a di-
ycst of all knowledge that is worth |
knowing. He consults his diction-
airy, because it is up TO date, and
yet contains all the words whose
meaning is likely to be sought for,
and because it gives, In complete
and accurate statement, in the light
If the most recent advances in
knowledge, and in the readiest form
Tor popular use, the photography,
pronunciation, meaning, and ety.
nology of all the words, and the
meaning of idiomatic phrases in the
speech and literature of the English
speaking people. Therefore, he
examines his dictionary for the
spelling, the pronunciation, and
the meaning Of words, he studies
his dictionary for the meaning OF
i1iomatic phrases in the speech and
literature; he enjoys his dictionary
for the illustrations and plates which
make palmer to him than words can
the meaning of the text; he con
suits his dictionary for its many
compilations; and he prizes his
dictionary because it is an intellectu
al collaboration.
W