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January 13, 2024
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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
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