Theodore Menline Bernstein (1904–1979)

As Bernstein explains in the Introduction:

“A conventional dictionary lists words alphabetically and gives you their meanings. This unconventional dictionary lists an array of meanings alphabetically and gives you the words.”

The older you get, the more you will find uses for reverse dictionaries because your mind just can’t bring up the proper word you know is in your head somewhere. So, for example, while you are driving along, and you see a “building of corrugated metal that is long, semicylindrical and prefabricated,” you no longer have to identify it as “oh you know, what’s-it-called,” if you have this book at hand. You can look up that exact description and be reminded that what you are seeing is a “Quonset Hut.” Or suppose you want to know what the obscure and fun word is for a dog lover. Look up “dog lover” and you will find it is “philocynic.” And you may know something you are observing is “inferior” but in this book you will get the exact term for “inferior as a substitute,” “inferior in any way,” “inferior in quality,” “inferior in rank,” “inferior and pitiable,” or “inferior to an appalling degree.”

I used to keep this book on my shelf, but I have started to take it along with me to social gatherings, so there won’t be a circle of us memory-impaired guests saying things like, “Oh, YOU know what I mean!”

A great addition to a book collection!… (more)