Go back to the previous page

The Chambers Thesaurus

From the preface to The Chambers Thesaurus (2nd edition):

A thesaurus is a dictionary that provides alternatives to a particular word or phrase. It is the essential companion for anyone who wants to create something satisfying out of words - a quick, convenient source of synonyms and related terms that will help users express themselves in as precise, succinct and yet varied a manner as possible.

It was in 1852 that Peter Mark Roget published his Thesaurus. Its full original title was The Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases Classified and Arranged so as to Facilitate the Expression of Ideas and Assist in Literary Composition. His purpose was to provide readers not only with synonyms for a word, but, more generally, with a wide choice of expressions relevant to a particular concept. His method was to classify these within a framework of ideas on 17th-century philosophical and scientific principles. This meant that a very full alphabetical index was needed to open up the classified lists to the user. It was probably the complications of this system that ensured the continued popularity of the more 'user-friendly' type of word-finding book already in production in Roget's time - the simple alphabetical list of words, each followed by its own group of synonyms. More recently there has emerged the type of thesaurus that, while preserving the alphabetical arrangement, acknowledges the value of Roget's approach by supplying related words within each entry on a rather broader, more comprehensive basis than that of mere synonymity.

The Chambers Thesaurus belongs to this last type - it lists the commonest, most synonym-rich words in the language, arranged alphabetically, each with a plentiful supply of alternative and connected expressions. Selected antonyms have also been added wherever appropriate. It has all the recognized usefulness of any thesaurus - but its special advantage is that it draws on the rich resources of The Chambers Dictionary, known to dictionary connoisseurs and wordgame enthusiasts alike as a mine of useful, interesting and diverting items of vocabulary.

In this second edition, the text has been enlarged by 20 per cent, with many entries revised, and over 1500 new entries. Over 70,000 new synonyms and antonyms have been added, including many spellings and words from varieties of English around the world, old (obsolete, archaic or literary) words, and technical terms and expressions. It is recommended that The Chambers Thesaurus should be used in conjunction with The Chambers Dictionary, to which it is the perfect companion volume, since the words listed are only rarely completely interchangeable alternatives.

A thesaurus jogs the memory - it offers help to the person struggling to encapsulate a meaning in a forgotten mot juste that might remain tantalizingly on the tip of the tongue. It is indispensible to the student, writer or reporter. A thesaurus is fun to use, and with the fun comes the opportunity to enhance a personal command of words and increase general knowledge. Words that may not be well known to the reader will trigger off investigations in a dictionary, leading to an exploration of the remoter corners of the language. Finally, a thesaurus is a tool that the word-gamester - player, solver or compiler - cannot do without.

It is hoped that the reader will enjoy using this thesaurus not only to discover the exact word or phrase for an appropriate context but also to appreciate more fully the rich diversity of the English language.

View introductory material for this publication (In PDF format. You must have Adobe Acrobat reader installed to see this, if you don't click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader).

View a pronunciation guide for this publication (In PDF format. You must have Adobe Acrobat reader installed to see this, if you don't click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Chambers Publishers Ltd
Hodder Education
338 Euston Road
London
NW1 3BH

Telephone: 01235 400580
Fax: 01235 400454
Email: educationenquiries@hodder.co.uk
Website: www.chambers.co.uk

Chambers

Chambers is one of the world's most respected dictionary publishers, appealing particularly to word lovers and those who revel in all the quirks of the English language. Its extensive list of innovative language and reference titles includes the renowned Brewer's list of endlessly browsable dictionaries of phrase and fable, and covers English-language dictionaries and thesauruses for every level of user from school to crossword fan, from English learner to student of slang. Meticulously researched and expertly written, the highly acclaimed Chambers range has been at the forefront of presenting knowledge and learning in an engaging and accessible way since it was first established in the 19th century.