The Oxford First Illustrated Dictionary, beautifully illustrated by well-known picture book artist Emma Chichester Clark, is the perfect first building block for 5-7 year-olds to engage with words and language. Over 2000 entries give clear meanings and definitions, parts of speech, word forms, word families, synonyms and opposites to build vocabulary and first literacy skills. Not just a dictionary, this unique book brings to life the world of fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and picture books that children love. Winnie the Pooh and Georgie Porgie appear alongside Aladdin and Cinderella in the innovative example sentences. Rhyming words, little words hiding in big words, and riddles provide plenty of opportunities for fun word play, along with amusing word jokes and child-friendly word origins. The entry for 'crocodile' tells the child that the word comes from a Greek word meaning 'lizard' and ends with the joke: 'What's a crocodile's favourite game? Snap.'This wealth of information and fun with words is presented in a contemporary, easy-to-use, engaging layout, creating the most accessible and affordable dictionary and gift-book combination, the perfect buy for Christmas and holidays as well as for everyday use.

Oxford First Illustrated Dictionary

Children's Books

Delahunty, Andrew

Education & Reference

Oxford University Press

Oxford First Thesaurus

Reference

The all new Oxford First Thesaurus, with new contemporary 3D artwork and easy-to-use page design, is the best thesaurus for children in their early school years. It is powered by the Oxford Children's Corpus, a unique electronic database of millions of words of writing for children. The colourful, simple layout gives entries in alphabetical order along with hundreds of carefully-levelled synonyms for each entry and engaging full colour illustrations. To make navigation as easy as ABC, we have included the full alphabet on every page with coloured tabs, the letter of the page is highlighted. There is a full index of all the words that are included in the book at the back. It is the ideal companion to the Oxford First Dictionary. Go online for free downloadable word games, puzzles, and activities on the www.oxforddictionaries.com/schools website.

Have you ever had doubts about when to hyphenate two words? Confused over whether you should disassociate or dissociate yourself from something? Do you know when to spell doggie as doggy? Is it really a rule that a preposition should never fall at the end of a sentence? Now there is a single convenient source you can turn to with all your questions about how to speak and write more clearly: The Oxford Guide to English Usage, now available in a completely revised New Edition. In The Oxford Guide to English Usage Andrew Delahunty and Edmund Weiner (co-editor of the twenty-volume revised Oxford English Dictionary) provide succinct, practical advice on problems that writers struggle with every day. Designed for daily use, this marvelous handbook is organized according to basic themes (Word Formation, Pronunciation, Vocabulary, Grammar, Punctuation) and written to address the actual needs of a typical writer. Under "Word Formation," for instance, the authors offer helpful guidance on suffixes (drop the final silent e when adding -able), those troublesome hyphens, variations between British and American spelling, and why the prefix in- appears in some words and un- in others. The book's approach is consistently straightforward and practical. On the split infinitive, for example, the authors write that it should generally be avoided, but not to the extent that awkward, contorted sentences are the result. And they have this to say about prepositions: "It is a natural feature of the English language that many sentences and clauses end with a preposition, and has been since the earliest times. The alleged rule that forbids [it] should be disregarded." They also offer help on many other matters of grammar, punctuation, and pronunciation (with a thorough guide to differences in American and British usage). Along the way, the Oxford Guide to English Usage offers numerous examples from renowned writers that demonstrate proper usage--or how rules can be broken to good effect. For instance, after describing when the prefix un- should be used, the book offers this coinage by Anthony Burgess: "Joyce's arithmetic is solid and unnonsensical." In the decade since The Oxford Guide to English Usage first appeared, it has emerged as a well-thumbed favorite of students and writers everywhere. This New Edition has been completely revised to keep abreast of our rapidly changing language, featuring 20% more material, along with the wry, practical advice that has made this book a classic.

The Oxford Guide to English Usage (Oxford Paperback Reference)

Weiner, E. S. C.

Dictionaries & Thesauruses

Allusions give us a marvelous literary shorthand, drawing on our collective knowledge of literature, mythology, and the Bible to help us describe people, places, feelings, and events. A miser is a Scrooge, a strong man is a Samson or a Hercules, a beautiful woman is a Venus or a modern-day Helen of Troy. We can suffer like Sisyphus or linger like the smile of the Cheshire Cat. Ranging from classical mythology to modern movies and TV shows, this new reference work explains the meanings of the allusions in use in modern English, from Abaddon to Zorro, Tartarus to Tarzan, and Rubens to Rambo. Based on an extensive reading program that has identified the most commonly used allusions, this fascinating volume includes numerous quotations to illustrate usage, from a range of authors and sources, from Thomas Hardy and Charles Dickens to Bridget Jones's Diary. Moreover, the dictionary is thematically structured, so that readers not only can look up Medea to find out who she was and how her name is used as an allusion, but also can look up the theme of "Revenge" and find, alongside Medea, entries for other figures used to allude to revenge, such as The Furies or The Count of Monte Cristo.

The Oxford Dictionary of Allusions

Dignan, Sheila

Stock, Penny

From the affectionate and humorous to the derogatory and vitriolic, this scintillating collection of nicknames brings together famous people, places, events, and organizations with the nicknames that epitomize them. This brand new dictionary identifies and explains the origins of over 1,800 nicknames from contemporary and historical culture. The coverage is international and ranges from Buffalo Bill to Flo Jo to Dubya and from Silicon Valley to the Nutmeg State. Arranged alphabetically and including appendices listing groups of nicknames, a General Index, and a Thematic Index, The Oxford Dictionary of Nicknames is perfect browsing material for the general reader and the popular culture buff, and an ideal reference for anyone researching the identity and background of famous figures and places.

Oxford Dictionary of Nicknames

Allusions are a colorful extension of the English Language, drawing on our collective knowledge of literature, mythology, and The Bible give us a literary shorthand for describing people, places, and events. This completely new reference work explains the meanings of the allusions in use in modern English, from Abaddon to Zorro, Tartarus to Tarzan, and Rubens to Rambo. It is based on an extensive reading program that has identified the most commonly-used allusions. Quotations from a range of authors and sources are included at most entries to illustrate usage--anywhere from Thomas Hardy to Ben Elton, Charles Dickens to 'Bridget Jones's Diary'.

A Dictionary of Allusions (Oxford Quick Reference)

Dignen, Sheila

Stock, Penelope

Have you ever wondered which actress was the original "Blonde Bombshell", why prying people are often called "Nosey Parkers", or why Jane Fonda is referred to as "Hanoi Jane"? Curious about what the "It" is in "It Girl"? From the affectionate and humorous to the derogatory and vitriolic, this scintillating collection brings together famous people, places, events, and organizations, with the nicknames that epitomize them. With broad coverage of politicians, monarchs, athletes, actors, cities, institutions, and much more, the Oxford Dictionary of Nicknames explores the reasons behind the sobriquets of the famous and looks at contrasting attitudes to controversial figures, presenting each entry in its historical context. Over 1,800 nicknames are listed in an accessible A-Z format, while a full index allows users to cross-reference well-known figures with their nicknames. Entertaining, informative, and often funny, the Oxford Dictionary of Nicknames is perfect browsing material for the general reader, and a useful point of reference for anyone researching famous figures, places, or institutions.

Oxford Dictionary of Nicknames (Oxford Quick Reference)

Do you know what your favorite personalities or places are otherwise known as? Who is The Muscles from Brussels? When and why did Bill Clinton become known as The Comeback Kid? Where and what is Tin Pan Alley? And where do all those nicknames like Blondie and Titch come from? All these questions and many more will be answered in this delightfully browsable volume. Nicknames are a rich and revealing treasure trove of information about the people, places, and institutions they refer to. They can be affectionate, critical, respectful, or downright derogatory. In Goldenballs and the Iron Lady, readers will find intriguing information in over 800 entries on nicknames for people, places and institutions, as well as generic nicknames such as Shorty. Covering nicknames both past and present, each entry explains the story behind the nickname, making this an intriguing read. Also included are fascinating boxed features outlining the types of nicknames given to criminals, boxers, jazz musicians, as well as the traditions of nicknaming in different parts of the world. A thematic index will allow readers to find nicknames grouped together under headings such as the Wild West and politics. Written in a light and lively style and with cartoons throughout, this new volume is both endlessly browsable and informative.

Goldenballs and the Iron Lady: A Little Book of Nicknames

The Oxford Guide to English Usage

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Delahunty, Andrew. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Delahunty, Andrew

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Delahunty, Andrew. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Oxford First Illustrated Dictionary

Oxford First Thesaurus

Oxford First Thesaurus

The Oxford Guide to English Usage (Oxford Paperback Reference)

The Oxford Dictionary of Allusions

Oxford Dictionary of Nicknames

A Dictionary of Allusions (Oxford Quick Reference)

Oxford Dictionary of Nicknames (Oxford Quick Reference)

Goldenballs and the Iron Lady: A Little Book of Nicknames

The Oxford Guide to English Usage