Stanley Newman and Daniel Stark - Collins Million Word Crossword Dictionary

The Million Word Crossword Dictionary
Generally speaking, youll find the clue youre looking for under the clues most important word.

For example, Artists need would be under artist. Clues are indexed under multiple words if they have more than one important word.

Headwords are the main boldface clues that introduce each set of answers. Answers that follow headwords are generally listed alphabetically by word length. Sub-headwords, those indented in boldface under a headword, should be read with the headword preceding it. For example, the headword circle has the sub-headword portion, which should be read circle portion (answer ARC).

In sub-headwords that contain a tilde (~), the tilde takes the place of the headword in the reading. For example: the sub-headword flattened ~ under circle should be read flattened circle (answers OVAL and ELLIPSE).

Headwords are alphabetized on a letter-by-letter basis. Solid words precede hyphenated words or words with spaces, and lowercase letters precede capital letters. Headwords followed by a fill-in-the-blank follow the same stand-alone headword. Leading articles (A, The, An) in titles are ignored in alphabetization.

Multiword personal names are listed last name first. Fill-in-the-blank clues that start with the fill-in are alphabetized in full. Alphabetization for other fill-in-the-blank clues ends at the fill-in, so Fort __, IN precedes Fort Apache. To make clues that start with numbers easy to find, they are sorted numerically at the beginning of the initial letter, considering how the number is spoken. So 400 is at the beginning of F, and 2001 is at the beginning of T.

Most clues that are nouns are listed in the singular form.

Most clues that are verbs are listed in the infinitive form. There are exceptions for inflected answers that dont follow normal American spelling rules. Clues that involve a country or nationality are listed under the name of the country (Denmark or Mexico) rather than the nationality (Danish or Mexican).

Clues for common foreign words are listed under both the language and the English meaning. Crossword clues for foreign words often use references to foreign places and names, such as Here, to Henri, so hundreds of names and places with language cross-references are listed herein.
Clues like Man, for one (ISLE) and Sycamore, e.g. (TREE) are crossword staples. (TREE) are crossword staples.

So, unlike other crossword dictionaries, you will not only find the specific listed under the generic (SYCAMORE under tree) but also the other way around (TREE under sycamore).

Clues like Back starter (HORSE), Novel ender (ETTE), and Type of dance (BARN) require another word or prefix/suffix to be added to a clue word. When the answer forms a solid word with the clue, it is indexed as a starter if added at the beginning, and ender if added at the end. If the answer is hyphenated or has more than one word, it is indexed as a fill-in-the-blank. Thus, HORSE will be found under Back starter.
The many common crossword abbreviations and acronyms in this book can be readily identified as such, either by a period at the end or their rendering in all uppercase letters.
The many common crossword abbreviations and acronyms in this book can be readily identified as such, either by a period at the end or their rendering in all uppercase letters.

When looking up clues that contain abbreviations, be sure to check both the abbreviated word (dr.) and its unabbreviated form (doctor).

For the sake of clarity and accuracy, answer words (as well as clue words) are given with the appropriate capitalization, diacritical marks, and spacing for multiple words.