Collins Gem Latin Dictionary

As a high school student studying Latin, I have found this dictionary very useful for some time. The Latin to English and English to Latin sections are divided by a grey leaf grammar section. This is very useful for finding where you are, relative to the end or start of a section.

However, my copy is now in several pieces. The binding and glue used leaves a lot to be desired (though I suppose it could just be that I got a faulty one). It started to fall apart from near the beginning, without rough usage. I wonder if others have experienced the same problem?

Also, at 11cm high and 4cm wide, the size proportions are not the most convenient when you are trying to use it at school and flicking through it, etc. I wonder if HarperCollins could publish an alternative edition, with the same content and format, but more like A5 size?

*****  2004-04-06 Samuel Findlay

I study Greek and Latin and therefore find myself practically buried in dictionaries. The pocket sized Collins Gem however is god send, especially since I commute to school and would rather not have to lug the Chambers Murray (Latin) dictionary around. Not to say that I'm compromising for size here, because from my experience, I've had better luck finding words in the Collins Gem than I've had using Chambers Murray (which is at least four times bigger). However, if you like reading all this background material and would like some references, stick with the more comprehensive guide (Chambers Murray). On the other hand, if you just want to know what the word means (in other words get straight to the point) then look no further than the Collins Gem. I personally was amazed at how comprehensive this little book was, it even includes a mini-review on Latin grammar and verse. Now if only a pocket-sized ancient Greek dictionary that was this good existed, but hey, I guess we can't all have our cake and eat it too.

*****  2003-11-17 ucla geek

The COLLINS GEM LATIN DICTIONARY is a superb little dictionary that is superior to even other language dictionaries in the Collins Gem series. It is both a Latin - English and English - Latin dictionary, and includes several appendices on terminology of Roman cultural matters.

The Latin-English portion contains nearly all words the high school student or undergrad are likely to come across. It is followed by a brief summary of Latin grammar and verse. The grammar is sufficient only for students of the most basic level of competency in Latin, but the explanation of verse is insightful and will satisfy even higher-level students. The appendix of place-names in Latin and their equivalents in English is a godsend for students who can handle texts just fine except for place-names which are missing from many larger resources.

One caveat is that the dictionary seems a little too large if one is not going to be using the English - Latin section. High school students, and university students taking a course in Latin composition will find this section most helpful. Those whose use of a Latin dictionary is limited to deciphering problematic words in an otherwise clearly readable text will find an entire half of the dictionary to be unnecessary and may resent the larger size of what could be an ideally compact dictionary.

For beginning students of Latin, the COLLINS GEM LATIN DICTIONARY is the dictionary to get. It is not ideal for higher level study, but students with a few years of experience should have already invested in a copy of LEWIS & SHORT'S LATIN DICTIONARY.

*****  2003-08-15 Christopher Culver

The COLLINS GEM LATIN DICTIONARY by Professor Kidd remains a treasure for students of many stripes and disciplines. Language, law, Theology, History, philosophy, literature and even contemporary journalism benefit from "conversational" access to this most living and vibrant of "dead languages". The "tiny" COLLINS opus is genuinely MAGNUS in providing authoritative access in the well-known "pocket-book" format of about 675 pp. Besides dual translation of Latin-English; English-Latin; there are grammatical review features on Noun declensions, and Verb conjugation. There is a brief but informative foreword describing Classical sources of respective entries with proper caveat concerning "modern" translations from English into Latin.

This is a wonderful book for serious students and academics who,lacking Classical scholarship,need...or would enjoy..."user friendly place" to seek dependable Latin translations and sense of proper usage.THE COLLINS LATIN GEM DICTIONARY has been recognized as authentic gem since its first publication in 1957. It set the precedent as a linguistic milestone to rival any Once-or-Future Latin tome or trot. STARE DECISIS: Let this precedent stand...

*****  2003-01-20 Arthur F. McVarish

When this dictionary came in the mail, I was dismayed at the tiny size. Having studied French, Spanish and Korean in the past, I thought dictionaries had to be huge to be useful. So I stuck it on the shelf.
Then I came to a word I wanted a bit more information on, picked up this book, and was very pleasantly surprised. I've literally kept it at my right side whenever studying my Latin ever since then. It is so easy to grab and hold while keeping one's place in another book that now I can't imagine struggling with another 5-pound tome!

Review by Janet Knori, author of Awakening in God

*****  2002-10-26 Janet Knori