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Entry Order

Entry words are printed in boldface type. When more than one entry word appears in a drop-down list, they are in alphabetical order. Alphabetization is by first letter, then second letter, and so on, regardless of any spaces or hyphens that may appear in them:

Entry Word: make
Function: verb
Entry Word: make-believe
Function: adjective
Entry Word: make out
Function: verb
Entry Word: make over
Function: verb
Entry Word: Maker
Function: noun
Entry Word: makeshift
Function: adjective

When a headword contains a numeral, the numeral is alphabetized as though it were a spelled-out word:

Entry Word: anywise
Function: adverb
Entry Word: A1
Function: adjective
Entry Word: apace
Function: adverb

Homographs are words that are spelled the same, but each is a different part of speech or has a different etymology (word origin). Homographs that are different parts of speech are separate headwords:

Entry Word: hail
Function: noun
Text: 1 a heavy fall of objects
Entry Word: hail
Function: verb
Text: 1 to declare enthusiastic approval of

Homographs that have a different etymology, even when they are the same part of speech, are entered as separate headwords. Those that are the same part of speech are grouped together and numbered in sequence:

Entry Word: ¹list
Function: noun
Text: a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system

Entry Word: ²list
Function: noun
Text: the act of positioning or an instance of being positioned at an angle

Entry Word: ³list
Function: noun
Text: a long narrow piece of material

Entry Word: ¹list
Function: verb
Text: 1 to make a list of

Entry Word: ²list
Function: verb
Text: to set or cause to be at an angle

Verbs that are used in combination with a preposition or an adverb are entered with the verb in boldface type. Such combinations immediately follow the base verb in alphabetical order:

Entry Word: go
Function: verb
Entry Word: go for
Function: verb
Entry Word: go on
Function: verb
Entry Word: go to
Function: verb

When main entries are compound words, a closed form is entered separately from the hyphenated form:

Entry Word: nosedive
Function: noun
Entry Word: nose-dive
Function: verb
Entry Word: open-air
Function: adjective
Entry Word: open air
Function: noun

Kinds of Entries

There are two kinds of entries: main entries and secondary entries. Every entry word with its part-of-speech label is followed by either one or more main entries, one or more secondary entries, or a combination of the two.

If there is more than one entry, each one begins on a new line introduced by a boldface sense number. Main entries come first. A main entry consists of the meaning shared by the members of the synonym group, a verbal illustration, and lists of synonyms as well as any related words, phrases, near antonyms, and antonyms:

Entry Word: eagerness
Function: noun
Text: urgent desire or interest <students with an eagerness to learn>
Synonyms: appetite, ardor, avidity, desirousness, enthusiasm, excitement, hunger, impatience, keenness, thirst
Related Words: alacrity, quickness; ambition, gusto, zest
Near Antonyms: unconcern; aloofness, detachment; impassivity, languor
Antonyms: apathy, indifference

A secondary entry consists of the same shared meaning that is shown at the main entry along with a verbal illustration for that particular synonym. The secondary entry does not contain lists of synonyms, antonyms, related words, phrases, or near antonyms. Instead, at the end of the entry, there is a direction to "see" the appropriate main entry at another headword. Secondary entries follow any main entries at a headword:

Entry Word: gain
Function: verb
Text: 1 to increase in <as the car coasted downhill, it gradually gained speed and momentum>
Synonyms: build (up), gather, grow (in), pick up . . .
2 to receive as return for effort <gained her affections with his polite manner> -- see EARN 1
3 to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness <is gaining after his bout with the flu and will be back on his feet soon> -- see CONVALESCE

Entry Word: fade
Function: verb
Text: 1 to cease to be visible <the departing ship gradually faded over the horizon> -- see DISAPPEAR
2 to make white or whiter by removing color <years of harsh sunlight had faded the car, which was once fire-engine red> -- see WHITEN