Webster: Finding Answers!

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Hi,I have a couple of questions to someone expert in Webster dictionary:1) How many words exist in Webster dictionary?2) If words are listed by alphabet, is it possible to be listed in anyother way?Thanks

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[nq:1]Hi, I have a couple of questions to someone expert in Webster dictionary: 1) How many words exist in Webster dictionary? 2) If words are listed by alphabet, is it possible to be listed in any other way? Thanks[/nq]
I suppose I qualify as "someone expert in Webster dictionary."

The first point we need to clear up is that there are many "Webster" dictionaries.
=46rom Wikipedia: Dictionary

"Webster's Dictionary" is the title given for the common type of English language dictionaries in the United States. It is derived from American lexicographer Noah Webster and in the United States, the phrase Webster's has become a genericized trademark for dictionaries. Although Merriam-Webster dictionaries are descended from those of the original purchasers of Noah Webster's work, many other dictionaries bear his name, such as those published by Random House and John Wiley & Sons.
Merriam-Webster's Third New International Dictionary, what I would call the troubled heir to Noah Webster's legacy, is by no means the largest English-language dictionary. When Americans want to talk and think about their version of English, they turn to it, but when they really need to know details about the language, they turn to the largest lexicographical project in history, the Oxford English Dictionary.
There are "more than 476,000 entries" in the latest version of the Third International, according to Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Third-International-Dictionary-English-Language/dp/08= 77792011
In contrast:

The OED:
provides authoritative definitions of over 500,000 words traces the usage of words from their first recorded occurrence to the modern period through 2.5 million quotations from a wide range of international language sources
offers the best in etymological analysis and detailed listings of variant spellings
uses the International Phonetic Alphabet to show pronunciation

Cost-wise:
You can buy the 3rd International for 90 bucks or thereabouts.

It will cost you 900 bucks to bring home a 20-volume set of the OED, and 400 bucks to bring home a version that you need a magnifying glass to read. You'll then need to buy the three major supplements to round out your OED experience, for another 210 dollars. You can buy a CD that has the dictionary and all the supplements on it for $300 bucks.

On to the second question: can we list words in any other way than alphabetically?
Of course. Using the alphabet is the traditional way to do things. There are quite a few second-language learner's dictionaries that list words by topic. One of the best is:
Longman Active Study Dictionary
The Longman Active Study Dictionary is ideal for intermediate students who want a dictionary that lasts them up to advanced level. The best- selling dictionary in its category, the Active Study includes all the information students need to improve their English and increase their vocabulary in a portable size. It has more words, phrases, and examples than any other dictionary at this level.

Good luck.

Webster: Finding Answers!

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