Dictionaries

Langenberg Dictionary Collection

Thanks to Rosaleen Dickson for bringing this to my attention.Langenberg.com is a one-stop resource for phone numbers, reference books, geographic information and more. Their collection of dictionaries, all on one page makes searching a snap. (NOTE: A few of them return POST errors, which probably means there’s something wrong with the forms Langenberg has set up — a bit annoying, but it doesn’t really detract from the usefulness of this site. 

Merriam-Webster Language Centre

This contains both a dictionary and thesaurus in one, which can be very

handy and a real time saver. As a bonus, the site includes the transcripts of “Word for the Wise,” a series of broadcast articles on words and word related subjects.

Your Dictionary.com 

(Very slow loading, but packed with information.) Dictionary and thesaurus searches side by side, not on separate pages. A “language guesser” to help determine the origin of a word. (In an informal test, the language guesser guessed that “n’est pas” was possibly Estonian.) Their Library is appealing to those with a strong interest in language, language theory, and language use.

Collective Nouns 

Fine, so you know a flock of crows is called a “murder.” What about kangaroos? (A “mob.”) Wikipedia has a large database of collective nouns by:

Subject:

Collective Term:

Animals

Word & Phrase Origins

Wilton’s Word & Phrase Origins

Along with its readable and entertaining postings on the subject of etymology, it also has a sizeable list of words and phrases, a discussion board on etymological concerns, and an exhaustive list of resources. 

A Glossary of Hard-boiled Slang

This handy list of words and phrases straight out of film noire is supplied by Miskatonic University. Don’t be a bunny, barber with the best of the yeggs.

Mondegreens Rip My Flesh

This site cannot possible help you in your job, but it’s a good way to kill a few minutes while hiding from the illiterates surrounding you. Mondegreens are fun, and Jon Carroll’s site, an online version of his column in the San Francisco Chronicle, knows how to get the most enjoyment out of them. (”Will you still need me/ Will you still feed me/ When I’m six feet four?”)

Bartleby's & More

Bartleby.com

Best overall research tool for words, attributions, facts, phrases, mythology and pretty well anything else. Has many full-text classic fiction and nonfiction books online. Also:

Writer’s Cafe Directory of Canadian Publishers

An authoratative listing of publishers in Canada 

Canadian Library Web Sites & Catalogues 

Options to search by name, library type or region.