New_JJ online_JJ dictionary_NN1 redefines_NN2 'look_VV0 it_PPH1 up'_JJ Lexicographer_NN1 Erin_NP1 McKean_NP1 's_GE interactive_JJ "_" Wordnik_NN1 "_" is_VBZ projected_VVN to_TO be_VBI the_AT largest_JJT online_JJ dictionary_NN1 ever_RR ._. 
Erin_NP1 McKean_NP1 does_VDZ n't_XX look_VVI much_RR like_II a_AT1 revolutionary_JJ ._. 
She_PPHS1 speaks_VVZ softly_RR ._. 
She_PPHS1 sews_VVZ her_APPGE own_DA skirts_NN2 and_CC writes_VVZ a_AT1 daily_JJ blog_NN1 entry_NN1 about_II vintage_NN1 patterns_NN2 ._. 
She_PPHS1 does_VDZ work_VVI out_II21 of_II22 a_AT1 basement_NN1 ,_, but_CCB it_PPH1 's_VHZ got_VVN carpeting_NN1 and_CC good_JJ lighting_NN1 and_CC roughly_RR 1,500_MC books_NN2 ,_, many_DA2 of_IO whose_DDQGE titles_NN2 involve_VV0 the_AT word_NN1 "_" words_NN2 ._. "_" 
Her_APPGE suburban_JJ Chicago_NP1 home_NN1 is_VBZ not_XX exactly_RR the_AT picture_NN1 of_IO subversion_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 week_NNT1 ,_, though_CS ,_, she_PPHS1 is_VBZ slated_VVN to_TO launch_VVI what_DDQ may_VM be_VBI the_AT biggest_JJT revolution_NN1 in_II the_AT printed_JJ word_NN1 since_CS ,_, well_RR ,_, printed_JJ words_NN2 ._. 
Ms._NNB McKean_NP1 's_GE brainchild_NN1 is_VBZ called_VVN Wordnik_NP1 ,_, and_CC it_PPH1 combines_VVZ the_AT best_JJT practices_NN2 of_IO the_AT old-fashioned_JJ desk_NN1 reference_NN1 with_IW Internet_NN1 innovations_NN2 ._. 
Words_NN2 can_VM be_VBI tagged_VVN like_II a_AT1 blog_NN1 entry_NN1 ,_, their_APPGE pronunciation_NN1 recorded_VVN and_CC replayed_VVN like_II streaming_VVG radio_NN1 ,_, their_APPGE related_JJ words_NN2 cataloged_VVD like_II a_AT1 list_NN1 of_IO books_NN2 customers_NN2 also_RR bought_VVN at_II an_AT1 online_JJ book_NN1 depot_NN1 ._. 
When_CS the_AT paper_NN1 page_NN1 gives_VVZ way_NN1 to_II the_AT Web_NN1 page_NN1 ,_, everything_PN1 about_II the_AT way_NN1 we_PPIS2 think_VV0 of_IO words_NN2 will_VM change_VVI ,_, McKean_NP1 says_VVZ ._. 
"_" This_DD1 project_NN1 ,_, "_" she_PPHS1 predicts_VVZ in_II a_AT1 quiet_JJ voice_NN1 devoid_JJ of_IO bravado_NN1 ,_, "_" is_VBZ going_VVG to_TO completely_RR revolutionize_VVI all_DB of_IO dictionarymaking_VVG forever_RT ._. "_" 
Granted_VVN ,_, a_AT1 dictionary_NN1 is_VBZ closer_JJR to_II a_AT1 database_NN1 than_CSN a_AT1 mystery_NN1 thriller_NN1 ,_, its_APPGE authors_NN2 nothing_PN1 like_II ,_, say_VV0 ,_, John_NP1 Grisham_NP1 ._. 
But_CCB to_II McKean_NP1 ,_, nothing_PN1 has_VHZ ever_RR seemed_VVN more_RGR fascinating_JJ than_CSN collecting_VVG and_CC organizing_VVG American_JJ words_NN2 ._. 
McKean_NP1 was_VBDZ 8_MC years_NNT2 old_JJ when_CS she_PPHS1 decided_VVD that_CST when_CS she_PPHS1 grew_VVD up_RP ,_, she_PPHS1 wanted_VVD to_TO be_VBI a_AT1 lexicographer_NN1 --_NN1 the_AT technical_JJ term_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 writer_NN1 or_CC editor_NN1 of_IO dictionaries_NN2 ._. 
She_PPHS1 first_MD found_VVD it_PPH1 in_II her_APPGE daily_JJ scouring_NN1 of_IO The_AT Wall_NP1 Street_NNL1 Journal_NN1 ._. 
Her_APPGE father_NN1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 Journal_NN1 devotee_NN1 ,_, and_CC McKean_NP1 liked_VVD the_AT human_JJ interest_NN1 stories_NN2 (_( but_CCB ,_, she_PPHS1 jokes_VVZ ,_, "_" even_RR then_RT ,_, I_PPIS1 knew_VVD enough_RR not_XX to_TO read_VVI the_AT editorial_JJ page_NN1 ._. "_" )_) 
A_AT1 feature_NN1 article_NN1 celebrated_VVD Oxford_NP1 University_NN1 Press_NN1 's_GE 1980_MC Word_NN1 of_IO the_AT Year_NNT1 --_JJ ayatollah_NN1 --_NN1 and_CC talked_VVN about_II preparing_VVG the_AT newest_JJT edition_NN1 of_IO its_APPGE most_RGT famous_JJ title_NN1 ,_, the_AT Oxford_NP1 English_JJ Dictionary_NN1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 think_VV0 I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ really_RR attracted_VVN by_II the_AT fact_NN1 that_CST it_PPH1 was_VBDZ taking_VVG 21_MC years_NNT2 to_TO make_VVI the_AT second_MD edition_NN1 of_IO the_AT Oxford_NP1 English_JJ Dictionary_NN1 ,_, "_" she_PPHS1 recalls_VVZ ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ 8_MC ._. 
Twenty-one_MC years_NNT2 was_VBDZ forever_RT ._. "_" 
The_AT lexicography_NN1 bug_NN1 stuck_VVD ,_, in_RR21 part_RR22 because_CS McKean_NP1 loved_VVD language_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 voracious_JJ reader_NN1 ,_, plowing_VVG through_II her_APPGE local_JJ libraries_NN2 '_GE stacks_NN2 and_CC devouring_VVG anything_PN1 she_PPHS1 found_VVD at_II home_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 says_VVZ ._. 
"_" If_CS it_PPH1 was_VBDZ lying_VVG around_RP ,_, I_PPIS1 read_VV0 it_PPH1 ._. 
If_CS my_APPGE parents_NN2 did_VDD n't_XX want_VVI me_PPIO1 to_TO read_VVI it_PPH1 ,_, "_" she_PPHS1 says_VVZ ,_, "_" they_PPHS2 had_VHD to_TO hide_VVI it_PPH1 ._. "_" 
As_CSA her_APPGE classmates_NN2 abandoned_VVD childhood_NN1 dreams_NN2 of_IO firefighting_VVG or_CC Broadway_NP1 stardom_NN1 for_IF teaching_VVG or_CC nursing_NN1 ,_, McKean_NP1 stuck_VVD with_IW words_NN2 ._. 
"_" Nobody_PN1 ever_RR tried_VVD to_TO talk_VVI me_PPIO1 out_II21 of_II22 it_PPH1 ._. 
Nobody_PN1 knew_VVD enough_RR about_II it_PPH1 to_TO know_VVI if_CSW it_PPH1 was_VBDZ easy_JJ or_CC difficult_JJ ,_, "_" she_PPHS1 recalls_VVZ ._. 
"_" Nobody_PN1 had_VHD a_AT1 brother_NN1 who_PNQS was_VBDZ a_AT1 lexicographer_NN1 the_AT way_NN1 they_PPHS2 might_VM have_VHI a_AT1 brother_NN1 who_PNQS was_VBDZ a_AT1 firefighter_NN1 or_CC an_AT1 English_JJ teacher_NN1 or_CC a_AT1 doctor_NN1 or_CC a_AT1 lawyer_NN1 ._. 
Nobody_PN1 had_VHD ever_RR met_VVN one_PN1 ._. "_" 
For_IF good_JJ reason_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 found_VVD out_RP as_CSA she_PPHS1 pursued_VVD joint_JJ bachelor_NN1 's_GE and_CC master_NN1 's_GE degrees_NN2 in_II linguistics_NN1 at_II the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Chicago_NP1 :_: There_EX are_VBR n't_XX a_AT1 whole_JJ lot_NN1 of_IO jobs_NN2 for_IF lexicographers_NN2 ._. 
McKean_NP1 estimates_VVZ there_EX may_VM be_VBI 200_MC working_JJ lexicographers_NN2 in_II America_NP1 today_RT ,_, and_CC that_CST the_AT field_NN1 sees_VVZ about_RG two_MC full-time_JJ openings_NN2 a_AT1 year_NNT1 ._. 
McKean_NP1 got_VVD her_APPGE start_NN1 through_II a_AT1 combination_NN1 of_IO luck_NN1 and_CC ingenuity_NN1 :_: She_PPHS1 called_VVD up_RP the_AT only_JJ dictionary_NN1 publisher_NN1 based_VVN in_II Chicago_NP1 and_CC asked_VVN for_IF an_AT1 internship_NN1 ._. 
After_CS graduation_NN1 ,_, the_AT internship_NN1 turned_VVD into_II a_AT1 job_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ eventually_RR turned_VVN into_II a_AT1 career_NN1 at_II Oxford_NP1 University_NN1 Press_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 move_NN1 she_PPHS1 likens_VVZ to_II "_" being_VBG called_VVN up_RP by_II the_AT Yankees_NN2 ._. "_" 
At_II age_NN1 29_MC ,_, McKean_NP1 was_VBDZ the_AT chief_JJ editor_NN1 of_IO the_AT American_JJ dictionaries_NN2 group_NN1 ._. 
"_" If_CS it_PPH1 had_VHD Oxford_NP1 and_CC American_JJ in_II the_AT title_NN1 ,_, "_" she_PPHS1 says_VVZ ,_, "_" it_PPH1 was_VBDZ my_APPGE fault_NN1 ._. "_" 
She_PPHS1 could_VM dream_VVI up_RP bestsellers_NN2 ,_, like_II the_AT Oxford_NP1 American_JJ Writers_NN2 Thesaurus_NN1 ,_, but_CCB among_II her_APPGE favorite_JJ books_NN2 is_VBZ the_AT first_MD one_PN1 she_PPHS1 acquired_VVD at_II her_APPGE new_JJ home_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 publishing_NN1 house_NN1 with_IW a_AT1 reputation_NN1 for_IF erudition_NN1 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 was_VBDZ called_VVN Slayer_NN1 Slang_NN1 ...._... 
&lsqb;_( It_PPH1 &rsqb;_) is_VBZ a_AT1 treatment_NN1 of_IO the_AT slang_NN1 of_IO Buffy_NP1 the_AT Vampire_NN1 Slayer_NN1 ,_, "_" the_AT title_NN1 character_NN1 in_II a_AT1 hit_NN1 television_NN1 drama_NN1 from_II the_AT late_JJ 1990s_MC2 ._. 
The_AT purchase_NN1 revealed_VVD as_RG much_DA1 about_II McKean_NP1 's_GE sensibility_NN1 as_CSA it_PPH1 did_VDD about_II her_APPGE business_NN1 sense_NN1 ._. 
And_CC when_CS it_PPH1 comes_VVZ to_II dictionaries_NN2 ,_, McKean_NP1 says_VVZ ,_, sensibility_NN1 is_VBZ key_JJ ._. 
"_" People_NN have_VH0 this_DD1 idea_NN1 of_IO the_AT Platonic_JJ ideal_NN1 of_IO the_AT dictionary_NN1 ._. 
That_DD1 's_VBZ why_RRQ they_PPHS2 call_VV0 it_PPH1 'the_VV0 dictionary'_NN1 ...._... 
They_PPHS2 think_VV0 that_CST all_DB dictionaries_NN2 are_VBR pretty_RG much_RR the_AT same_DA ._. "_" 
Not_XX so_RR ,_, she_PPHS1 says_VVZ ._. 
There_EX are_VBR five_MC print_NN1 dictionary_NN1 publishers_NN2 in_II the_AT US_NP1 ,_, each_DD1 choosing_NN1 which_DDQ of_IO the_AT billions_NNO2 of_IO words_NN2 they_PPHS2 've_VH0 collected_VVN will_VM make_VVI it_PPH1 into_II print_NN1 ._. 
What_DDQ gets_VVZ left_VVN out_RP depends_VVZ on_II the_AT personality_NN1 of_IO the_AT publishing_NN1 house_NN1 ._. 
On_II the_AT other_JJ hand_NN1 ,_, how_RRQ to_TO evaluate_VVI what_DDQ gets_VVZ in_RP is_VBZ a_AT1 task_NN1 beyond_II most_DAT people_NN ._. 
"_" Most_DAT consumers_NN2 do_VD0 n't_XX have_VHI a_AT1 good_JJ metric_JJ for_IF deciding_VVG on_II whether_CSW the_AT dictionary_NN1 they_PPHS2 want_VV0 to_TO use_VVI is_VBZ a_AT1 good_JJ one_PN1 ..._... so_CS they_PPHS2 flip_VV0 the_AT book_NN1 over_RP ,_, then_RT go_VV0 to_II the_AT back_NN1 ,_, and_CC it_PPH1 says_VVZ ,_, over_RG 250,000_MC entries_NN2 ._. 
And_CC they_PPHS2 go_VV0 ,_, 'Great_VV0 ,_, this_DD1 dictionary_NN1 must_VM be_VBI awesome_JJ !_! '_" "_" she_PPHS1 says_VVZ ,_, "_" Because_CS if_CS you_PPY do_VD0 n't_XX know_VVI a_AT1 word_NN1 ,_, how_RRQ do_VD0 you_PPY judge_VVI the_AT quality_NN1 of_IO the_AT definition_NN1 ?_? "_" 
Enter_VV0 Wordnik_NP1 ,_, McKean_NP1 's_GE newest_JJT project_NN1 ._. 
In_II the_AT infinite_JJ space_NN1 of_IO the_AT Internet_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 can_VM define_VVI as_RG many_DA2 words_NN2 as_CSA she_PPHS1 wants_VVZ ._. 
"_" There_EX are_VBR hundreds_NNO2 of_IO thousands_NNO2 of_IO words_NN2 that_CST are_VBR n't_XX in_II any_DD print_NN1 dictionary_NN1 today_RT ..._... because_CS there_EX 's_VBZ no_AT space_NN1 for_IF all_DB of_IO them_PPHO2 ._. "_" 
Wordnik_NN1 has_VHZ space_NN1 for_IF many_DA2 of_IO them_PPHO2 ,_, and_CC for_IF their_APPGE bells_NN2 and_CC whistles_NN2 ._. 
Her_APPGE team_NN1 of_IO seven_MC has_VHZ analyzed_VVN what_DDQ print_VV0 and_CC online_JJ dictionaries_NN2 do_VD0 and_CC do_VD0 n't_XX do_VDI well_RR ._. 
They_PPHS2 've_VH0 built_VVN a_AT1 user-friendly_JJ resource_NN1 that_CST should_VM be_VBI the_AT best_JJT --_NN1 and_CC biggest_JJT --_NN1 of_IO both_DB2 worlds_NN2 ._. 
Wordnik_NN1 generates_VVZ its_APPGE content_NN1 from_II a_AT1 database_NN1 of_IO 4_MC billion_NNO words_NN2 ,_, twice_RR as_RG many_DA2 as_CSA that_DD1 of_IO her_APPGE last_MD employer_NN1 ._. 
"_" Four_MC billion_NNO words_NN2 ,_, "_" she_PPHS1 says_VVZ with_IW a_AT1 shrug_NN1 ,_, "_" is_VBZ what_DDQ you_PPY can_VM pick_VVI up_RP lying_VVG around_RP on_II the_AT floor_NN1 of_IO the_AT Internet_NN1 ._. "_" 
Want_VV0 to_TO evaluate_VVI a_AT1 definition_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 word_NN1 you_PPY 've_VH0 never_RR met_VVN ?_? 
No_AT problem_NN1 ;_; other_JJ users_NN2 can_VM tell_VVI you_PPY if_CS they_PPHS2 favor_VV0 that_DD1 definition_NN1 ._. 
Want_VV0 to_TO know_VVI what_DDQ other_JJ words_NN2 often_RR appear_VV0 in_II the_AT same_DA sentence_NN1 as_CSA what_DDQ you_PPY 've_VH0 just_RR looked_VVN up_RP ?_? 
There_EX 's_VBZ a_AT1 section_NN1 called_VVN "_" related_JJ "_" for_IF words_NN2 used_VVN in_II the_AT same_DA context_NN1 as_CSA yours_PPGE ._. 
Need_VV0 to_TO know_VVI what_DDQ a_AT1 farthingale_NN1 ,_, for_REX21 instance_REX22 ,_, looks_VVZ like_II ?_? 
Images_NN2 are_VBR imported_VVN to_II the_AT page_NN1 from_II photo-depot_JJ giant_JJ Flickr_NN1 ._. 
Unsure_JJ if_CS you_PPY really_RR understood_VVD the_AT definition_NN1 ?_? 
Every_AT1 word_NN1 has_VHZ several_DA2 example_NN1 sentences_NN2 ,_, culled_VVN at_RR21 random_RR22 from_II that_DD1 Internet_NN1 floor_NN1 and_CC then_RT sorted_VVD so_RR the_AT best_JJT rise_NN1 to_II the_AT top_NN1 of_IO your_APPGE search_NN1 page_NN1 ._. 
That_DD1 may_VM be_VBI the_AT real_JJ revolution_NN1 :_: digitizing_VVG a_AT1 bit_NN1 of_IO data_NN about_II every_AT1 word_NN1 we_PPIS2 English_JJ speakers_NN2 have_VH0 ever_RR put_VVN on_RP the_AT old-fashioned_JJ page_NN1 ._. 
Byte_NNU by_II byte_NNU ,_, the_AT soft-spoken_JJ lexicographer_NN1 will_VM see_VVI her_APPGE revolution_NN1 through_RP ._. 
