Dr. Klein's work is indeed the product of a real scholar and is a most useful etymology. The book is well-bound (signature-sewn) with a bonded-leather hardcover. The entries are incisive and many provide information not found in other such tomes.

However, I feel that the price is very, very steep compared to such top-rate etymologies as Chambers, etc.

The book is definitely worthwhile to own, if you can stretch your book-buying budget enough (mine cried "ouch", but I bought it anyway). Well, we are on this earth only once, I suppose. =)

About 30 years ago I visited the late Dr Klein at his Synagogue in Toronto where he translated some historical documents for me. I was very impressed by his ability to identify and interpret the nuances of meaning within the historical context, and also of his profound understanding of linguistics. Dr Klein possessed a quiet unassuming brilliance that shines through on every page of this dictionary. This Dictionary is an exhaustive and detailed etymology, with scholarship unrivalled in English. Consider Dr. Klein's potential competitors for best English language etymology: IMHO, they are Barnhardt's Etymology (aka the new Chalmers D of E), Onion's Oxford Etymology, Weekley's Concise and a number of engaging shorter etymologies by Room, Hendrickson, Ayto and Morris. Each of the competing etymologies approaches the task of creating a concise English language etymology from very different perspectives. So, as a consumer searching for the best work you should first consider what specific etymological requirements you have. (For example, the Barnhardt/Chalmers is unsurpassed with its treatment of American English. In contrast, the Onion Oxford extracts etymology from the OED and provides a chronology of development whereas Morris and Ayto provide considerably smaller though more approachable word list, etc). NOW, if you are wondering what makes KLEIN's etymology the best for all purposes, here's my take. First, consider Dr Klein's perspective. He states that he is dealing "with the origin of words and their sense development thus illustrating the history of civilization and culture". A lofty vision that Klein achieves with ease. Second, Klein's work exhibits the absolute highest level of scholarship and academic focus. Third, his dictionary provides a comprehensive history of the evolution of over 55,000 words, thereby making it the most exhaustive English language etymology available. Fourth, each word is fully developed from their root in the Proto-Indo European hypothetical language (or Tocharian, Semitic, and other sui genris sources) to current modern English usage. Fifth, to the best of my knowledge, Dr Klein's work is the only comprehensive etymology that analyzes common first names, biblical and mythological characters, angels, saints and demons, and place names. Finally, Klein's work also provides thousands of medical, legal and scientific terms, as well as all roots and stems used to create compound English words. Though this is an expensive book, the 7th impression (released in 2000) is beautifully and solidly bound, with legible though small type, and printed on high quality acid free paper. If you plan on buying only one etymology, then this is definitely the one to get - I haven't used any of my others since this arrived a couple months ago.

Extremely well researched etymology, probably the best available still today.

The work referred to herein is the 1987 MacMillan publication. It has 721 pages (+ xix), printed 3 columns to the page, the volume is sturdy and is smyth sewn. A fine work, physically.

The work is done by one man, and thus has a consistent flavor. The definitions are brief, usually prefaced with the gender and number of the term. The words reflect various periods of the Hebrew language: Biblical Hebrew to New Hebrew (with loan words). Though his definitions and etymologies are brief, they often put to shame much more expensive dictionaries.

Klein is an expert in this field, and this volume is VERY useful for the accurate study of Hebrew. I do wish that the basic Hebrew font could have been a little clearer, and that the other languages could have been written in their native scripts (transliterations are used). The price varies from 50 to 100 dollars, but get it if you can, at any price it is a bargain!! Gary S. Dykes

I cannot agree highly enough with other reviewers - this is THE dictionary for those who wish to study the Hebrew language or understand Hebrew works in depth. The awesome breadth of Dr. Klein's scholarship, mentioned by Amazon reviewers of his CEDEL - "Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language" - is also reflected here in his tracing of the words back through so many tongues. Also, while not strictly needed in a work of Hebrew etymology, the CEDHLRE entries often include forward references, showing how the Hebrew words themselves became the roots of later languages, especially English; any lover of language will be charmed.

Also helpful to the lay student is that Dr. Klein assumes no other linguistics background. Unlike other etymologies such as Jastrow, only knowledge of the Hebrew and English alphabets is assumed, and references to languages such as Persian and Egyptian are given in English transliteration.

Finally, Dr. Klein was not afraid to let his personal charm show through in his writing. Throughout there are entries that include such phrases as "generally considered ... but I believe ...." or "I disagree with those who say ...." It is clear that the CEDHLRE is a personal work, the product of one scholar's love for his field.

My one complaint about this work is its unfortunate scarcity. While the CEDEL is fairly available (including here on Amazon) the CEDHLRE has been kept in undeserved obscurity. In my first copy, I luckily found early on that a folio had been misbound so that one set of pages appeared twice and the next was missing; I was able to replace it while the bookseller still had volumes in stock. But as my second copy became worn in my years at seminary, where it was a daily reference, I began looking to replace it. Sadly, I have retired that second copy but have been unable to find a third.

If you can find a copy, I urge you to either buy it yourself, or let me know about it. :-) Thanks.

when i began studying in preparation for conversion to reform Judaism, i wanted to learn what the Hebrew words meant that i was saying in the prayers. i looked for a book of word-by-word translation, but there was none. so i started studying Hebrew and i saw references to Rabbi Klein's etymologic dictionary. i checked with b&n and found it was out of print. then i checked with the local used bookstore, and they had a copy on the shelf--(which i bought)---it took me a year to find another one by book-search. this book has been the source of 90% of the work that i have just finished after 3 years of work. since this dictionary goes to the derivation of the Hebrew word, it is more in line with the original meaning in most of the prayers and psalms. i wish it would be reprinted. the most awesome thing is Rabbi Klein himself, who had a Ph.D. from the University of Vienna, and then was put into Auschwitz. He was almost the only one of his family to survive. It helps one realize the terrible waste of knowledge and potential in the human life which was lost in the Holocaust. The connections of one word with others which Klein explains in this book make the study of Hebrew even more interesting. Pamela Coyle, M.D.