December 2006 Newsletter

Welcome to the first of our new-style project updates, which replaces our previous newsletter format. These updates will carry the usual articles and favourite features such as Appeals and Quotable Quotes, but will additionally present an analysis of the latest batch of revised entries to be added to the site.

In this issue, the Chief Editor, John Simpson, analyses the effects of revision on the range pomander to prajnaparamita, with fascinating statistics, charts of etymological distribution, and most frequently cited authors; Graeme Diamond, who heads the new Words Group, looks at some of the words so new that they aren't yet in the OED; and Jeremy Marshall writes about a recent book on Tolkien's language by three OED staff members. There is also a tribute to Sandra Raphael, a former editor on the Supplement to the OED, who died earlier this year.