Oxford Dictionary of reference and allusion, 3 Edition

The book "Oxford Dictionary of reference and allusion, 3 Edition" — Шейла Дигнен, Andrew Delahunty

Oxford Dictionary of reference and allusion, 3 Edition.

Цель словаря – дать более или менее полный выбор синонимов, т. е. слов, сходных по общему значению, но различных по оттенкам. Книга должна служить пособием при отыскании забытых выражений. Предназначая свой словарь исключительно для практического употребления, автор заботился не столько о точных определениях оттенков у различных синонимов, сколько о полноте синонимических гнезд, предоставляя чутью пользующегося угадать потребное: язык редко считается с философскими определениями и разграничениями, особенно в области синонимов, обыкновенно и возникающих именно из неточных, фигуральных оборотов.

Series : Oxford Paperback Reference Allusions form a colourful extension to the English language, drawing on our collective knowledge of literature, mythology, and the Bible to give us a literary shorthand for describing people, places, and events. So a cunning crook is an Artful Dodger, a daydreamer is like Billy Liar, a powerful woman is a modern-day Amazon - we can suffer like Sisyphus, fail like Canute, or linger like the smile of the Cheshire Cat. This absorbing and accessible A to Z explains the meanings of allusions in modern English, from Adonis to Zorro, Tartarus to Tarzan, and Rubens to Rambo. Fascinating to browse through, the book is based on an extensive reading programme that has identified the most commonly-used allusions.

now available in paperback, this new edition includes within each entry a short summary definition for the allusion or reference, ideal for quick reference, and at least one illustration citation from a wide range of source materials in almost every entry: from Aldous Huxley to Philip Roth, Emily Bront? to The Guardian Unlimited. A useful thematic index allows searching for allusions related to a specific topic, e. g. under Intelligence find Aristotle, Einstein, and Spock, and under Hair find Medusa, Samson, and Shirley Temple. The Oxford Dictionary of Reference and Allusion is both a useful and user-friendly reference work for students of English Literature and Language, as well as for non-native English speakers for aid with unusual references, and an absorbing volume for all lovers of literature and culture in general.

Readership : Students of English Literature and Language, non-native English speakers, and lovers of fictional literature in general.