Do you use a dictionary?

[Oblomov]

I used to use a dictionary very regularly as a student to look up the meaning of unusual or ambiguous words. I still do, but less often than beofre. I want to mention here that for over 40 years I found Chambers' Dictionary superior to the Oxford one.

[Kell]

I did Latin at school and that has been very useful over the years for working out the roots. Bring back Latin I say!!

I wanted to study Latin at school, but there were only 3 of us in the entire school of 800 pupils who wanted to do it, so they refused to bring in sa teacher for it.

 

I love seeing the origins of words though - dictionaries are great that way too.

[JudyB]

Even knowledge of modern languages can be handy for working out definitions - I've certainly been delving into that knowledge for the word game on FreeRice (see other thread) - it's compulsive.

[~Andrea~]

There's a word for that, but I can't remember what it is.

 

[ValenCina]

If it's something that is really bothering me, I'll look it up, but otherwise I try to guess the meaning of the word from its context.

 

So do I. Using the dictionary every time takes away the pleasure of reading.

[So!]

I have a notebook which I always keep beside me when I read. Whenever there are any words I come across that I don't know the meaning of, I write them down and look them up later. I also write down any words that I find beautiful, so that one day I can use them in stories of my own.

 

Jim

[Janet]

That's a good idea, Jim.

 

I like finding new words and then trying to introduce them into a conversation!

[~Andrea~]

I have a notebook which I always keep beside me when I read. Whenever there are any words I come across that I don't know the meaning of, I write them down and look them up later. I also write down any words that I find beautiful, so that one day I can use them in stories of my own.

 

Jim

 

I have started doing that. It's made me realise how quickly I forget the meaning of a new word I've learned. I've taken to writing down the meaning too now!