MemeMachineGo!

Personally, I think the Oxford English Dictionary, in which one can see the history of a word, in context, from original sources through the centuries, is one of great strengths of the English language. I own the Compact OED, an unabridged single volume in type that can’t be read comfortably without magnification (I can make it out unmagnified, to the astonishment of most people.)

Personally, I think Oxford University Press is making a big mistake with their pricing. The CD-ROM costs $295 ; online access costs $550 for a one-year subscription . Put the CD-ROM into the double-digits and half the geeks in the English-speaking world would splurge for it — I know I would (despite the obnoxious copy-protection scheme, even.)

Well, my father gave me this tip — join the Quality Paperback Book Club and online access to the OED is a perk . Joining costs less than $20, for which you get 6 books and an obligation to buy one more within a year. So far as I know, there isn’t a purchase obligation to maintain your membership; you just need to go to the bother of opting out approximately monthly from being sent their Main Selections, which you can do on-line.

(I have no relation to the QPB save as customer; if I seem to be plugging them hard it’s only because, for people who want access to the OED, this really is a great bargain.)