Hastings District Libraries

Library Access

Public Access

Conditions:
Library card number required

Here at your finger tips are 20 volumes of The Oxford English Dictionary!

The accepted authority on the evolution of the English language, covering the evolution of  words from across the English-speaking world.

OED has been relaunched

The new version retains the most important aspect of its content: the definitions, etymologies, documentary evidence (quotations).

It also has some great new features, including:

• Text deriving from the editors' working database
• Online link to the Historical Thesaurus of the OED
• Geographical train - words listed according to their geographical area of specialist use
• Slang trail

What are the differences between the OED and ODO?

ODO - Oxford Dictionary Online
Focuses on current English and includes modern meanings and uses of words.  May be used without loging in at http://oxforddictionaries.com

OED - Oxford English Dictionary
This is a historical dictionary and shows the fascinating history of how words and meanings have developed over time. This is our subscription database - free to our library members. Log in using your library card number.

OED forms a record of all the core words and meanings in English over more than 1000 years, from Old English to the present day, and including many obselete and historical terms.  

See more about these differences at:  http://oxforddictionaries.com/page/537

Access Notes:
Available in our libraries (no charge) or from home. Login using your library card. Epic Database terms and conditions apply.