word-book
(ˈwɜːdbʊk)
[f. word n. + book n.; in sense 1 cf. G. wörterbuch (f. gen. pl. of wort word + buch book), Du. † woordboek, woordenboek, Icel. orðabók, Sw. ordbok, Da. ordbog.]
1. A book containing a list of words (as of the vocabulary of a language, a book, an art, or science) arranged in alphabetical or other systematic order.
The term is often used where it is desired to avoid the implication of completeness or elaboration of treatment characteristic of a dictionary or lexicon.
| 1598 Florio Ital. Dict. To Rdr. b 1, If no other bookes can be so well perfected, but still some thing may be added, how much lesse a Word-booke? 1730 Bailey (fol.), Vocabulary, a Word-Book, a little Dictionary containing a Collection of Words. 1791 Boswell Johnson an. 1755 (1904) I. 197 Johnson's Dictionary..a work of much greater mental labour than mere Lexicons, or Word-books, as the Dutch call them. 1867 Smyth (title) The Sailor's Word-book: an Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms. 1879 G. F. Jackson (title) Shropshire Word-Book: a Glossary of Archaic and Provincial Words, etc. used in the County. 1882 (title) A Word-Book for Students of English History. |
2. The ‘book of the words’ or libretto of a musical composition.
| 1878 J. Marshall in Grove Dict. Mus. I. 353 Besides translating many foreign libretti, [H. F. Chorley] wrote the original word-books of one version of the ‘Amber Witch’ (Wallace),..of the ‘May Queen’ (Bennett), [etc.]. 1891 Guardian 23 Sept. 1531 Mr. Culwick's interesting summary of the word-book and its annotations. |