Database Du Jour

The OED Online!!!!

Did you know that the term pirate has been used since 1387? How did we become so knowledgeable about the entomology of words? By using the Oxford English Dictionary database, brought to you by the University of Virginia for free! This database gives examples of literary works when the word in question is used. For example, “a1616 SHAKESPEARE Twelfth Night (1623) V. i. 65 Notable Pyrate, thou salt-water Theefe.” As one can read, the date, author, and title of the work are given, along with the sentence. Not only does the OED give the definition and the entomology, it usually gives a number of definitions for the word. The first definition for pirate is “a person who plunders or robs from ships at sea.” The second definition is “a vessel used for piracy or manned by pirates.” The third definition is “a person or company who reproduces or uses the work of another (as a book, recording, computer program, etc.) without authority and esp. in contravention of patent or copyright; a plagiarist.” There are not only three definitions for the pirate, there are six. If you are so intrigued by this lovely database feel free to use your proxy id and password to learn other uses for pirates and the entomology of many other words.