Oxford English Dictionary. Explore the history of the English language over the last 1,500 years!

Oxford English Dictionary Online is a database containing the full text of the 2^nd edition of the Oxford English Dictionary and the 3 Additions volumes, as updated from time to time with new and revised entries.

The online edition of the world-famous Oxford English Dictionary offers unprecedented access to the largest and most comprehensive dictionary of English in the world.

• Find out the meaning, origin and evolution of over 500,000 words from across the English-speaking world - from North America to South Africa, from Australia and New Zealand to the Caribbean.
• See how words have been used over time through over 2 million quotations from a from a wide range of international English language sources - from classic literature and specialist periodicals to film scripts and cookery books.
• Search for words that have come into English from other languages, or during a particular period in history.
• Keep up with the latest vocabulary and scholarship – 2,500 new words and words with new meanings are added every 3 months.

What was the original meaning of “nice”? Which English words have an Urdu origin? When did “mobile phone” first enter the English language? What would you do if you saw a “robot” in South Africa? Which words have come into English since the year 2000? These are some of the fascinating things you can find out using the Oxford English Dictionary Online.

Librarians can find promotional material, fact sheets, banners and logos, search options and more at the Librarian Resource Center.

The agreement between eIFL and Oxford University Press means that institutions and consortia in eIFL countries can access the Oxford English Dictionary Online from 2007 thru 2010 at greatly discounted rates. In some cases access is provided at no cost.

If you are an institution in one of the eIFL countries and would either like to know whether your institution has access to Oxford English Dictionary Online or how to gain access to them, please get in touch with your country coordinator.