Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, and other Ready Reference Web Sites
Meta Sites | Dictionaries | Encyclopedias | Thesauri | Quotations| Converters, Miscellaneous
Ready Reference Meta Sites
From the publishers that bring you classic literature online, a site that provides access to encyclopedias and fact books, as well as to a fascinating array of literary reference sources such as Mencken's Language, Frazer's Golden Bough, and Bulfinch's Mythology.
From St. Ambrose University, contains links to credible Internet materials for research organized as "Hot Paper Topics," "Resources by Major," and other useful categories.
Access to the online version of Britannica Encyclopaedia, the academic edition. Includes Merriam-Webster Dictionary & Thesaurus, links to the BBC News and the New York Times, atlases, and biographies.
Martindale's The Reference Desk
Award-winning reference site, strong in science and technology links
Dictionaries
Babel FishYahoo's Translation Services
Directory of Translation Dictionaries
Lexicool.com is one of the most comprehensive directories of bilingual and multilingual dictionaries and glossaries on the Internet. The site has a fully searchable database, with over two thousand titles referenced.
"NetLingo is an online dictionary about the Internet. It contains thousands of words and definitions that describe the technology and community of the World Wide Web."
Over 350 different dictionaries with almost two million words; excellent citations, including word origins.
Although not a substitute for the Oxford English Dictionary, this free resource provides the origins of thousands of words (from Douglas Harper).
Encyclopedias
Statistical information on world religions
Access to the online version of Britannica Encyclopaedia, the academic edition
1913 edition. Use as an historical source only. The contemporary edition with supplements can be found in the Reference Room of the library. R203 N53c 2003
Provides "global access to knowledge about life on earth." EOL is a Wickipedia for the life sciences sponsored by respected universities, libraries, and institutions across the globe. More info on EOL.
From e-library
"This web site contains the complete contents of the 12-volume Jewish Encyclopedia, which was originally published between 1901-1906. The Jewish Encyclopedia, which recently became part of the public domain, contains over 15,000 articles and illustrations. This online version contains the unedited contents of the original encyclopedia. Since the original work was completed almost 100 years ago, it does not cover a significant portion of modern Jewish History (e.g., the creation of Israel, the Holocaust, etc.). However, it does contain an incredible amount of information that is remarkably relevant today.
Online version of Information Please Almanac, includes almanac, dictionary, encyclopedia, and atlas
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
An excellent open-access reference source created by contributions from libraries and philosophy departments all over the world. Features in depth articles with extensive bibliographies.
Thesauri
Roget's International Thesaurus(1852 edition)
Quotations
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations (10th ed., 1919)
Provided by Project Bartleby at Columbia University
Fagan Finder Quotations and Proverbs Search
Links to many quotation sites
Offering myriad quotations on varied subjects from many sources
Various quotations organized by subject [motivational, quotes of the week, etc.]
Other Resources
This Internet site provides a list of possible matching organization names, phrases, or words for acronyms and initialisms the user submits (e.g. ALA - American Library Association).
"The fascinating world of maps and mapping"
The Universal Currency Converter
Allow you to perform interactive foreign exchange rate calculations using up to the minute currency rates.