Description:
Ideal for students, this CD-ROM version of Merriam-Webster's perennially popular dictionary and thesaurus hits the mark with a fast and friendly interface and a comprehensive database that includes more than 500,000 entries. As in previous editions of the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, the content here moves well beyond simple words and etymologies to include famous political and cultural figures from world history, place names, classical allusions, and some of the latest scientific terminology (a must for any college student). Browsing through, we even found numerous entries from areas as diverse as theoretical physics and literary theory--there's truly something for everyone here. But, if users crave more information, they can link to the Web for many entries and hear a real speaker pronounce more than 100,000 entries--particularly useful for difficult words and words with non-English origins. Installation of this CD was truly effortless, and we found the program's interface to be instantly useful; search and navigation capabilities are a real strength. In addition, users can search for clues to crossword puzzles (by inputting words with missing letters) and anagrams--and even more esoteric options, such as cryptograms (where letters are substituted with others by shifting positions along the alphabet). Better yet, users can move between thesaurus and dictionary effortlessly. Generations of students have relied on Merriam-Webster to inform their writing and reading through college, and this revised electronic edition is sure to continue the tradition through the digital age. --Rich Dragan
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