Grab Bag of the Good Stuff: Love the Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus

I abide by a general rule when it comes to Midtown/Downtown Atlanta during times of the GDOT closing lanes and exits for construction/repaving purposes.  I avoid it.  Thus, I decided not to attend this event at the Georgia Dome.

Click here for footage of the autograph session.

Speaking of the Dome, watch how it became futbol-ready when Mexico played Venezuela in late June of this year.

No matter how trivial or serious the topic, it’s pretty cool to know exactly what someone else is thinking.  Someone you otherwise never knew existed could be musing on or has entertained thoughts similar, contradictory, or nearly identical to those that have gone through your own head.  A few days ago, I wandered into a couple of neat blogs.  Vanessa Leigh and Worry of the day.

Are all baby feet cute and awesome?

~!~

Yes, I love and you should love The Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus.

The following text was originally published in 2004 at my LiveJournal; I’m copying and pasting it here verbatim:

i’ve found a muse…well, not exactly a muse but a very, very useful tool.

It’s called The Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus. A couple yrs ago, i thought about researching how i could convince a dictionary publishing house (like random house or websters or something) to buy my idea of making Subject Thesauri…

When you look thru the standard Roget thesaurus or something, you may not find the right synonym for convey or indicate. If youre a film or art history student you may be able to use a synonym for convey or indicate that may not be the best word for a med student or a chem student who wants to express the same idea.

The Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus is the closest reference book I’ve seen to my idea. Not only does it include a countless number of synonyms for words, but it also has these sections called Word Spectrums, The Right Word, Easily Confused Words, and other FYI’s concerning word origins & usage notes.

The Word Spectrum takes two antonyms & bridges the words with the synonyms of each word. For example (i left out some of the more informal phrases):

Begin to End

Begin
-inaugurate
-commence
-initiate
-launch
-start
-set in motion
-buckle down
-lead up to
-build up to
-reach the turning point….
….decelerate
-slow down
-discontinue
-bring to a stop
-shut down
-halt
-close
-stop
-cease
-finish
-deactivate
-terminate
-conclude
-culminate
-End

The Right Word explains how synonyms are subtly or greatly different.
For instance (and im typing verbatim here):

There are a number of ways to show your support for something. The most general way is to APPROVE it, a term that covers everything from simple, technical agreement (to approve the plan) to enthusiastic support (she was quick to approvr her son’s decision to marry). ENDORSE implies a more public & official expression of support & is used primarily in reference to things that require promotion or publicity (endorse a political candidate), while COMMEND is to make a formal & usually public statement of approval or congratulation (he was commended for his heroism).

SANCTION, CERTIFY, and RATIFY imply that approval is not only official, but that it makes something legal. To SANCTION is not only to approve but to AUTHORIZE (school authorities would not sanction the wearing of hats in classes), while CERTIFY implies conformity to standards (certified to teach in the State of New York). RATIFY is usually confined to only the most official and authoritative settings. For example, an employer might SANCTION the idea of hiring a woman to perform a job that only men have performed in the past, and the woman in question might have to CERTIFY that she possesses the necessary training and qualifications. But to RATIFY a constitutional amendment granting equal rights to women requires a lengthy set of legislative procedures.

i had to buy it.

i learned some cool words too.

Pulchritude- n. beauty

Nullipara- n. a woman who has never given birth; not pejorative.

Lagniappe- n. a little something extra given as a bonus or a gift

Enfeoff- v. to give to someone the permanent tenancy of land or estates that are in fact ultimately owned by a lord to whome the enfeoffed person gives loyalty, fealty, and perhaps rent. archaic word.

and the AGGRAVATE actually means to exacerbate, make something worse. it doesnt mean to annoy. EXASPERATE is an intense to annoy.