--- product_id: 52443900 title: "Shorter Oxford English Dictionary - Sixth Edition (set of 2 books)" price: "$200.21" currency: USD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/52443900-shorter-oxford-english-dictionary-sixth-edition-set-of-2-books store_origin: US region: United States of America --- # 2,500+ new words & senses 2-volume comprehensive set covers English from 1700 to present Shorter Oxford English Dictionary - Sixth Edition (set of 2 books) **Price:** $200.21 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 📖 Unlock the power of English — past, present, and future in your hands! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Shorter Oxford English Dictionary - Sixth Edition (set of 2 books) - **How much does it cost?** $200.21 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/52443900-shorter-oxford-english-dictionary-sixth-edition-set-of-2-books) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Expert Insight Included:** Features a new introductory essay by renowned language expert David Crystal on the History of English. - • **Cutting-Edge Scholarship:** Updated with thousands of new antedatings, quotations, and a fresh design for clarity and ease of use. - • **Compact yet Comprehensive:** Abridged from the full 20-volume OED, delivering one-third of its coverage in just two volumes. - • **Trusted Authority for Professionals:** Ideal for editors, teachers, and language enthusiasts seeking precise, nuanced definitions and etymologies. - • **Historical Depth Meets Modern Relevance:** Includes vocabulary from Shakespeare, the Bible, and all current English usage since 1700. ## Overview The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary Sixth Edition is a meticulously updated, two-volume abridgement of the full 20-volume OED, offering one-third of its word coverage from 1700 to today. With 2,500+ new words, thousands of new quotations, and expert editorial insights, it remains the definitive resource for professionals and language lovers seeking authoritative, historical, and contemporary English definitions. ## Description From the beginning, the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary was intended to be an abridgement of the full Oxford English Dictionary. The first editor, William Little, was appointed in 1902. He worked on it until his death in 1922, after which the dictionary was completed by H. W. Fowler, Jessie Coulson, and C. T. Onions. The First Edition was published in 1933, in two volumes. The Second Edition, published in 1936, contained about 3,000 revisions and additions. The Third Edition (1944) contained an appendix of addenda and corrigenda, and this edition was reprinted several times with corrections and additions, the most significant being in 1973, with enlarged addenda (now running to over 70 pages) and a major revision of all the etymologies. The New Shorter was prepared under the editorship of Lesley Brown 1980-1993. It was the first complete revision of the dictionary, being in fact not so much an overhaul of the existing text as a reabridgement of the OED and its Supplements. The Fifth Edition was published in 2002, and reverted to the name Shorter Oxford English Dictionary to emphasize the link between this 2-volume dictionary and the original 20-volume OED. The Sixth Edition of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary provides a complete update of this unique reference work. Based on the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary, the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary contains an incredible one-third of the coverage of the Oxford English Dictionary, is just one-tenth of the size, and includes all words in current English from 1700 to the present day, plus the vocabulary of Shakespeare, the Bible and other major works in English from before 1700. The new edition, with a new introductory essay by language expert David Crystal on the History of English, includes 2,500 new words and senses, plus thousands of antedatings of existing words, drawing on the huge ongoing research project for the Oxford English Dictionary and the wealth of information on language in use provided by the Oxford English Corpus. In addition, the work includes many new quotations from recent authors, a refreshed design, and a complete review of spelling forms and defining vocabulary, making it the most authoritative reference work available for both modern and historical English. For scholars and everyone with a serious interest in the English language, the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary is an unrivalled resource, providing a unique description of the historical development of the language together with excellent coverage of current English. The Sixth Edition showcases the best of the traditional strengths of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, while bringing it up to date in its scholarship and research, in the design and layout, and in its treatment of the changing face of English. This is a 2 volume set. Review: The new Shorter English Dictionary on CD Rom - First of all I was not sure if the dictionary would run with Windows 7. Windows 7 was not included with the operating systems quoted on the back of the cd cover but it works fine. Installation was a pleasant surprise. I have the full OED on cd and installing that can take quite a while. This was lightning fast. My operating system suggested that installation was faulty but on trying it out it worked fine. I like the set up. It's easy to navigate around, very smooth. The entries, quotations etc. are clear. As for the dictionary itself I have yet to make up my mind as I will need to work with it a little bit. In my opinion the OED is the best English dictionary for fulfilling the most important function of a dictionary - imparting an understanding of a word. This version of the Shorter Oxford Dictionary is less forbidding than the older versions which is all to the good. I expect and hope that this latest edition has not lost the clarity of explanation which is a hallmark of most Oxford dictionaries. Review: The 2-book set arrived today in perfect condition. This abridged edition IN BOOK FORM of ... - This abridged edition IN BOOK FORM of the multi-volume OED covers enough words for language fans as well as editors and teachers. More often than not, an advanced learner's dictionary does not include enough words or the inflected forms of some words which also require explanation and it is here that this dictionary comes in to help. For example, most advanced learner's dictionaries include "halo" as a noun but no defined entry on its corresponding verb form. Also, the Shorter OED provides clearer definitions on simple words. For another example, "crotch" is not just about human groins, but also means "a fork of a tree or a bough" in a language context in which part of a tree is concerned. A wonderful compilation! ## Features - New Store Stock ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 365,439 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 59 in English Dictionaries 704 in Vocabulary Reference 1,226 in English Literacy | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 251 Reviews | ## Images ![Shorter Oxford English Dictionary - Sixth Edition (set of 2 books) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81otRfoYkEL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The new Shorter English Dictionary on CD Rom *by G***G on 3 June 2013* First of all I was not sure if the dictionary would run with Windows 7. Windows 7 was not included with the operating systems quoted on the back of the cd cover but it works fine. Installation was a pleasant surprise. I have the full OED on cd and installing that can take quite a while. This was lightning fast. My operating system suggested that installation was faulty but on trying it out it worked fine. I like the set up. It's easy to navigate around, very smooth. The entries, quotations etc. are clear. As for the dictionary itself I have yet to make up my mind as I will need to work with it a little bit. In my opinion the OED is the best English dictionary for fulfilling the most important function of a dictionary - imparting an understanding of a word. This version of the Shorter Oxford Dictionary is less forbidding than the older versions which is all to the good. I expect and hope that this latest edition has not lost the clarity of explanation which is a hallmark of most Oxford dictionaries. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The 2-book set arrived today in perfect condition. This abridged edition IN BOOK FORM of ... *by I***E on 3 April 2018* This abridged edition IN BOOK FORM of the multi-volume OED covers enough words for language fans as well as editors and teachers. More often than not, an advanced learner's dictionary does not include enough words or the inflected forms of some words which also require explanation and it is here that this dictionary comes in to help. For example, most advanced learner's dictionaries include "halo" as a noun but no defined entry on its corresponding verb form. Also, the Shorter OED provides clearer definitions on simple words. For another example, "crotch" is not just about human groins, but also means "a fork of a tree or a bough" in a language context in which part of a tree is concerned. A wonderful compilation! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ HAVE YOU EVER BEEN WRONGLY CORRECTED OVER A WORD, WHEN YOU WERE RIGHT ? *by E***Y on 14 May 2022* After obtaining this Shorter Oxford English Dictionary I have proof that has been denied me in all other dictionaries I have delved into to date. That quite simple word, having been part of my vocabulary since childhood, is the noun ( conjunction and adverb ) 'whilst', which has origins going right back to the late Middle English period. This means that it has been in use for at least 500 years, yet I was once castigated by my school's English teacher for using it in an essay, and computer spelling checkers now try to correct me when using it in internet correspondence. I know it is silly but, at 70 years of age, I eventually feel that I have been absolved of the ironic sin of using a word that has existed all along. The price of this two volume set alone is worth the settling of that matter in my mind. Eamonn ## Frequently Bought Together - Shorter Oxford English Dictionary - Sixth Edition (set of 2 books) - Oxford Thesaurus of English - Oxford Modern English Grammar --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.us/products/52443900-shorter-oxford-english-dictionary-sixth-edition-set-of-2-books](https://www.desertcart.us/products/52443900-shorter-oxford-english-dictionary-sixth-edition-set-of-2-books) --- *Product available on Desertcart United States of America* *Store origin: US* *Last updated: 2026-07-14*