Structure of DOST entries
Headword, variant spellings and part of speech
The entry starts with the commonest headword. In the earlier part of the dictionary the first headword listed may have been the closest in form to the etymological source from which it was believed to derive. This is followed by the main variant spellings, and the part of speech. Other variant spellings then follow.
Etymology
The origin of the word, if known, is given next, usually in square brackets.
Senses
Some of the larger entries are divided into sections, e.g. A, B etc. or I, II, etc., with the main senses within them. The main senses are numbered 1, 2, etc., with the most common meaning listed first. These are further subdivided into paragraphs a, b etc. for subsenses and (a), (b) etc. for categories of spelling variation.
Quotations and references
Examples of how a word is used are given after the appropriate definition either as a quotation and its reference; or where only the spelling of the word is of interest, a variant form and a reference only; or a reference only.
The examples appear in chronological order within each sense.
The full text of the Guide to the Structure as found in volume XII of DOST is available here.
