① All main entries appear flush to the left margin of the column. Certain main entries are shown in italics,
    but most are entered in romans.

① A characteristic of the English language is the existence of alternate spellings and alternate terms.
    In the Dictionary, terms are usually defined at the forms a reader is most likely to find in contemporary
    writing, but common variant forms are shown at many entries. These forms range from simple spelling
    variants of the main entry (ameba-amoeba) through forms similar to the main entry but not identical,
    as those in which only the suffix differs (explor-atory-explorative), to forms that are substantially
    different from the main entry (riboflavin-vitamin B2).

The meanings of certain terms are evident from the sum of their parts, the already defined base word plus
a prefix or a suffix. There is consequently no need for the Dictionary to define all of these terms separately.
It should be understood that no group of run-on forms at any given entry and no list of prefixed terms at the
bottom of a page can be considered complete. Prefixes, like non- and re-, and suffixes, like -ly, -ity, -like,
and -ness, which are used to help form the undefined entries in this dictionary.

Definitions within an entry are individually numbered in a single sequence that includes all parts of speech. In each part of speech group, the most frequently encountered meanings generally come before less common ones.

Idioms, expressions whose meanings are not predictable from the usual meanings of the constituent elements, are shown under the main entry for one of the content words in the idiom. When the idiom might feasibly be listed at either of two such words, it is fully defined at one of them and may be cross-referred to this definition at the other.

Some entries or individual definitions are restricted in use to one particular subject field, like history, or to two related fields, like chemistry and physics. These entries and definitions are appropriately labeled throughout the Dictionary.

① Labels of place Entries or definitions that are limited in use to a particular geographical location are given regional labels, like Canadian, Chiefly Brit., or South Mid-land U.S. Entries not so labeled are considered to be in general use throughout the U.S. A few terms, especially those with a somewhat rural flavor, like again or opry, are too widespread to warrant a specific regional label. These are labeled Dial.
Informal.
An informal term is not likely to occur in formal, prepared speech or carefully edited writing except when used intentionally to convey a casual tone.

Nonstandard.
A nonstandard term is characteristic of the speech of persons with little education and is often regarded as a marker of low social status.

Slang.
Often metaphorical, slang terms may be vivid, playful, elliptical and ephemeral.

Vulgar.
Vulgar terms are considered inappropriate in many circumstances because of their association with a taboo subject. Major taboo subjects in English-speaking cultures are sex and excretion and the parts of the body associated with those functions.

Disparaging.
This label indicates that a term is used with disparaging intent, as to belittle a particular racial, religious, or social group.

Offensive.
This label indicates that the term so labeled is likely to be perceived as offensive by a listener or reader, whether or not any offense was intended.

Facetious.
A term may be labeled "Facetious" if it is used consciously for humorous or playful effect.

Baby Talk.
A term with this label is thought to be used by small children and is therefore used by adults in imitation of a child, as in speaking to babies, young children, sweethearts, or pets.

Literary.
An entry term with this label is used rarely in contemporary speech or writing except to create a literary, poetic, evocative effect.

Eye Dialect.
This label is used for deliberate misspellings in literature that are calculated to convey a character's lack of education or habitual use of dialectal pronunciations, but that in fact represent perfectly standard pronunciations, often the only ones in use, as the one conveyed by wimmin, for women.

Pron. Spelling.
Terms with this label, which stands for "Pronunciation Spelling”, differ from those labeled "Eye Dialect" in that they are not intended to convey lack of education, but merely continuous, especially rapid, speech. The label is used for such forms as gonna 'going to' (followed by a verb) and lemme 'let me', and the pronunciations they reflect, while not the only ones possible, are used by speakers at all educational and social levels, on formal as well as informal occasions.