The OED is unlike any other dictionary in that it contains not only meanings of words, but also information on spelling, pronunciation, and derivation. It also contains quotations that illustrate the usage of a word using examples from printed texts, from its earliest recorded usage to the present, unless a word has fallen out of use. Cross-references are also noted in capital letters within entries. These cross-references can be followed to find more information about the origin and meaning of a word. More information about the structure of the entries within the OED can be found in the Help section of the database.
       
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Updated September 10, 2006