Speaker
Description
Certain aspects of word meaning and usage become visible only when dictionaries are compared directly. This paper examines three cases—apparently, be on speaking terms, and suffer (from)—to show how cross-dictionary analysis reveals patterns that remain hidden in single-dictionary consultation. By comparing definitions, sense divisions, and examples across major EFL dictionaries (CALD, COBUILD, LDOCE, MWALED, and OALD), the study demonstrates the pedagogical value of such comparison. The analysis of apparently shows notable variation: CALD lists three senses, whereas others merge or reduce them. Example sentences further reveal mismatches, such as an OALD example illustrating a sense not explicitly defined there but found in CALD. The expression be on speaking terms illustrates how usage tendencies emerge only through comparison. Dictionaries show that the phrase appears predominantly in the negative, and positive uses typically describe the restoration of communication after conflict. The verb suffer shows distinct transitivity and collocational patterns. Cross-dictionary analysis reveals contrasts among intransitive use, suffer from, and transitive constructions, clarifying semantic tendencies and demonstrating the value of comparative consultation for more precise lexical understanding. Overall, dictionary comparison reveals usage patterns invisible in single sources, offering clearer insights for interpretation and learning.