Reverse Dictionary

by Reader's Digest Association

An ingenious word finder that helps you locate the precise word you want when you know generally what you mean but can't recall the exact term. You look up the meaning to find the word. Contains over 400,000 words in more than 70,000 main entries.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Dictionaries, Writing, Language, Guides

768 pages, Hardcover

First published February 23, 1989

About the author

The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. is a global media and direct marketing company based in Chappaqua, New York, best known for its flagship publication founded in 1922, Reader's Digest. The company's headquarters are in New York City, where it moved from Pleasantville, New York.

The company was founded by DeWitt and Lila Wallace in 1922 with the first publication of Reader's Digest magazine, but has grown to include a diverse range of magazines, books, music, DVDs and online content.

Reviews

[J.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really neat dictionary, perfect for writers who always have the word they want on the tip of their tongue but don't exactly remember what it is. For example, if you look up something generic, like "window," the entry will consist of a listing of different types of windows, from bay to jalousie to sash. It tells you the name of the panels of glass and the frames separating them. It gives you pictures of different types of windows and exterior housings.

In short, it will help take your prose from generic to specific and help you increase your vocabulary and knowledge along the way. Littered with pictures and tables on all sorts of items, it should be on every writer's shelf.

[Lynne Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a writer's friend. It's amazing to find just the word I want. Besides, I learn something every time I open it. Highly recommend!

[Nalora · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you are thinking of a thing, but the word for that thing is just beyond your reach, this book is invaluable. I have used this book for years to jog my memory of words and terms forgotten, or to learn new words that are in a family of words yet not synonyms. A treasure and incredible reference tool for writers!

[Allison Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the neatest dictionaries I've ever seen. Want to know the name of a fabric, parts of a saddle, the kinds of pasta, all the kinds of knots? And on and on. It's the one book I'll never loan out because I refer to it continually to find the perfect word, or a description.

[PRJ Greenwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indispensable book for a writer. Want to know those pesky parts of a church? Or what all those sails on a three-master are named? Look up church and ship, get the answers. Great help for anyone who writes.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

At last a book that gives you the general topic and names the parts. Something that a regular thesauraus or dictionary won't give you.

[Kaethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never actually used this one so much. Until fairly recently I always knew the word I needed, as well as the one you were looking for.

[Keith Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent dictionary for getting that word from the tip of your tongue out onto paper!