The eleventh edition of the Merriam-Webster dictionary contains over 65,000 entires. I purchased this dictionary in 2004, the date of its publishacation, and I have been greatful for it ever since. With its compact size, consice and clear diffinetions one can not go wrong with this selection. This editiion also features common used forgien words, geographical names and bibliographal names. One just needs to flip to page 873 to learn how to pronounce the name of the magnifacnt Russian writer Dostoyesky. In addtion the reader could easily note that the Russian muse of prose was born in 1821. Not many dictionarys can provide such usefull insight. This book can be used for many things other than the common uses of spelling, defining, and pronoucation. The syllables for each word are shown with their respecitve stressed or unstressed notation. This makes writing poetry, exspecialy those difficult iambic pentameter forms, a breeze. Without the Merriam-Webster dictionary one could not fully apperacte the English language. By owning a copy one is able to explore and ponder on the beauty, style, and grace as so pleases them. I can honestly say it has never stopped pleasing me.