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Reverse Search
Reverse Search allows you to search within the full text of dictionary entries for words, word parts, and phrases.
Search for entries that contain:
Exact matches of any of the individual words entered in the search box.
Example: Searching for "apple orange" identifies all entries that contain the word "apple" or the word "orange."
Any form of any of the individual words entered in the search box.
Example: Searching for "apple orange" identifies all entries that contain the word "apple" or "apples" or "orange" or "oranges."
Exact matches of all of the individual words entered in the search box.
Example: Searching for "apple orange" identifies all entries that contain the word "apple" and the word "orange."
The exact sequence of words and/or characters entered in the search box (for example, a fragment of a word, a single word, multiple words, or even a phrase containing punctuation)
Example: Searching for "a variety of apple" identifies all entries that contain that phrase. Searching for "app" identifies all entries that contain the letters "app," such as occurrences of "apple," "application," and "apply."
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| denotation |
an explicit, agreed-upon meaning of a word, as distinguished from connotation. (Cf. connotation.) [1/3 definitions] |
| melioration |
the historical process by which a word gradually acquires positive connotation, and eventually, positive denotation. (Cf. pejoration.) [1/2 definitions] |
| pejoration |
the historical process by which a word acquires increasingly negative connotation, and eventually, negative denotation. (Cf. melioration.) [1/2 definitions] |
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