Three types of status labels are used in this dictionary -- temporal, regional, and stylistic -- to signal that a word or a sense of a word is not part of the standard vocabulary of English.
The temporal label obsolete means that there is no evidence of use since 1755:
Main Entry: ¹per.du
Function: noun
obsolete : a soldier assigned to extremely hazardous dutyMain Entry: gov.ern.ment
Function: noun
2 obsolete : the term during which a governing official holds office
The label obsolete is a comment on the word being defined. When a thing, as distinguished from the word used to designate it, is obsolete, appropriate orientation is usually given in the definition:
Main Entry: ¹cat.a.pult
Function: noun
1 : an ancient military device for hurling missilesMain Entry: far.thin.gale
Function: noun
: a support (as of hoops) worn especially in the 16th century beneath a skirt to expand it at the hipline
The temporal label archaic means that a word or sense once in common use is found today only sporadically or in special contexts:
Main Entry: ¹goody
Function: noun
archaic : a usually married woman of lowly station . . .Main Entry: lon.gi.tude
Function: noun
2 archaic: long duration
A word or sense limited in use to a specific region of the U.S. has a regional label. Some regional labels correspond loosely to areas defined in Hans Kurath's Word Geography of the Eastern United States. The adverb chiefly precedes a label when the word has some currency outside the specified region, and a double label is used to indicate considerable currency in each of two specific regions:
Main Entry: pung
Function: noun
New England : a sleigh with a box-shaped bodyMain Entry: ban.quette
Function: noun
1 . . . b Southern : sidewalkMain Entry: ³pas.tor
Function: noun
chiefly Southwest : herdsmanMain Entry: do.gie
Function: noun
chiefly West : a motherless calf . . .Main Entry: gal.lery
Function: noun
2 . . . b Southern & Midland : porch, verandaMain Entry: ¹pot.latch
Function: noun
2 Northwest : a social event or celebrationMain Entry: smear.case
Function: noun
chiefly Midland : cottage cheeseMain Entry: crul.ler
Function: noun
2 Northern & Midland
: an unraised doughnut
Words current in all regions of the U.S. have no label.
A word or sense limited in use to one of the other countries of the English-speaking world has an appropriate regional label:
Main Entry: cutty sark
Function: noun
chiefly Scottish : a short garment . . .Main Entry: lar.ri.kin
Function: noun
chiefly Australian : HOODLUM, ROWDYMain Entry: in.da.ba
Function: noun
chiefly South African : CONFERENCE, PARLEYMain Entry: spal.peen
Function: noun
chiefly Irish : RASCALMain Entry: ¹bon.net
Function: noun
2 a British : an automobile hoodMain Entry: book off
Function: intransitive verb
Canadian : to notify an employer that one is not reporting for workMain Entry: ¹din.kum
Function: adjective
Australian & NewZealand : TRULY, HONESTLYMain Entry: gar.ron
Function: noun
Scottish & Irish : a small sturdy workhorse
The label dialect indicates that the pattern of use of a word or sense is too complex for summary labeling: it usually includes several regional varieties of American English or of American and British English:
Main Entry: cal.a.boose
Function: noun
dialect : jail
The label dialect British indicates currency in several dialects of the Commonwealth; dialect English indicates currency in one or more provincial dialects of England:
Main Entry: bo.gle
Function: noun
dialect British : GOBLIN, SPECTREMain Entry: ¹hob
Function: noun
1 dialect English : hobgoblin, elf
The stylistic label slang is used with words or senses that are especially appropriate in contexts of extreme informality, that usually have a currency not limited to a particular region or area of interest, and that are composed typically of shortened or altered forms or extravagant or facetious figures of speech:
Main Entry: 4barb
Function: noun
slang : barbiturateMain Entry: ²skin.ny
Function: noun
slang : inside information : dopeMain Entry: main squeeze
Function: noun
slang : one's principal romantic partner
There is no satisfactory objective test for slang, especially with reference to a word out of context. No word, in fact, is invariably slang, and many standard words can be given slang applications.
The stylistic label nonstandard is used for a few words or senses that are disapproved by many but that have some currency in reputable contexts:
Main Entry: learn
Function: verb
2 a nonstandard : teachMain Entry: ir.re.gard.less
Inflected Form(s): adverb
nonstandard : regardless
The stylistic label substandard is used for those words or senses that conform to a widespread pattern of usage that differs in choice of word or form from that of the prestige group of the community:
Main Entry: is
Function: present 3d singular of BE, dialect present 1st & 2nd singular of BE, substandard present plural of BE
A subject label or guide phrase is sometimes used to indicate the specific application of a word or sense:
Main Entry: knock.about
Function: adjective
3 of a sailing vessel : having a simplified rigMain Entry: ²break
Function: noun
5 . . . d mining : FAULT, DISLOCATIONMain Entry: ²up
Inflected Form(s): adjective
5 of a quark : having an electric charge . . .
In general, however, subject orientation is given in the definition:
Main Entry: Di.do
Function: noun
: a legendary queen of Carthage in Virgil's Aeneid who kills herself when Aeneas leaves herMain Entry: je.té
Function: noun
: a springing jump in ballet made from one foot to the other in any direction
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