The second-edition Merriam Webster is one of word mavens' favorite dictionaries. The third edition is the dictionary most likely to be fed to the fire leaf by leaf. (Nero Wolfe reference.)
<list of nasty qualities deleted> As a case in point, compare the "improvement" in the definition of bobbin lace: MWII: "bobbin lace: lace made on a pillow with bobbins; pillow lace." MWIII: "bobbin lace: a handmade lace made by intertwisting threads wound on bobbins and worked over a pillow on which the pattern is marked out by pins." Both dictionaries agree that the primary meaning of bobbin is the small cylinders on which thread is wound in order to make bobbin lace, but III uses more words and gives less information. II notes that one purpose of the bobbin is to keep tension on the threads, III does not. -- Joy Beeson [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.earthlink.net/~joybeeson/ west of Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.A. where we had sun on glazed snow. - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
