This book, now in its third edition, is still the most uniquely comprehensive resource for finding word parts needed to express a concept. Along with aiding vocabulary expansion, this dictionary provides guidance to those who may be interested in inventing or deciphering words bearing an established and embedded meaning.

This work is split into three parts. Part I, the dictionary proper, provides an alphabetical listing of over 5,100 word parts. Each entry includes a brief definition, examples of use and etymology.

Part II, the Finder, is a reverse dictionary that allows users to start with a meaning or concept to then find word parts that express the meaning. The only reverse dictionary of its kind,this section is updated with over 4,600 search terms in total.

The expanded Part III organizes word parts under 20 convenient categories—like The Body, Fear or Dislike of, Experts and Shapes.

A retired English professor, Michael J. Sheehan taught at Olive-Harvey College, City College of Chicago. He is the author of works of fiction, writing handbooks and is a member of the Society of Midland Authors, the Dictionary Society of North America, the American Dialect Society, and Michigan Writers. His blog Wordmall can be found here.

Michael J. Sheehan
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 299
Bibliographic Info:
Copyright Date: 2021
pISBN: 978-0-7864-9434-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4210-9
Imprint: McFarland

Preface  1
PART I
Dictionary  5
PART II
Finder (Reverse Dictionary)  149
PART III
Categories  229
Animals  230
The Body  234
Colors  240
Dimensions  242
Directions  242
Divination  243
Eating Habits  245
Emotional States  248
The Environment  250
Experts and Their Titles  254
Fear or Dislike of  265
Food  272
Location  274
Measurement Science  275
Mental Processes  279
Negatives  281
Numbers  282
The Senses  283
Shapes  285
Time  290

“Those interested in etymology will particularly appreciate this volume…This is fascinating stuff. …highly recommended”—Choice