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January 13, 2024 Tweet Word of the Week Like Word of the Week on Facebook
Word of the Week--"index"
Definition--an alphabetical list of the significant names, places, and subjects, appearing in a printed work, usually at the end and including the page numbers on which each item appears.
 
 
Discussion--Everyone appreciates a good index. An index provides a roadmap to the contents of a book for those who don't intend to read or who don't need all the content. You can take your question to the index and frequently get a page reference that contains just the answer you needed. As more documents are published on the web, frequently the index is replaced by a search engine. Unfortunately, the search engine is not as precise or useful as a well-crafted index.

Creating an index is a task that few perform and few want to perform. In fact, one author dubbed indexing "the persistent, painful persuance of petty details." For others, indexing can be a relaxing activity. In either case, if the result is a well-crafted, complete index, readers benefit greatly.

The term has developed other meanings and usages, such as in mathematics as a scalar variable or in economics as in a cost-of-living index.
 

Etymology--The term index is from Latin for forefinger, or literally anything that points out. It comes from the Latin indicare, meaning to point out or indicate.

The languages below all show similar roots from indicate or register, the Latin for a list.


   Foreign Translations
German:  Register (nt)
Dutch:  register (het)
French:  index (m)
Italian:  indice
Spanish:  índice (de materias)

Jane Ellis      Tweet Word of the Week Like Word of the Week on Facebook

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