The Encarta Webster's Dictionary 2004 is the second edition of the Encarta World English Dictionary, originally published in 1999, Ann Soukhanov, editor. Slightly larger than a college dictionary, it is similar in appearance and scope to the American Heritage Dictionary, which Soukhanov previously edited. Created using extensive computer resources, it draws on English as it is spoken in all parts of the English-speaking world. 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday of the Common Era, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (AHD) is a dictionary of American English published by Boston publisher Houghton-Mifflin, the first edition of which appeared in 1969. ...

A distinctive feature of the dictionary is the abbreviated definitions, highlighted prior to the full definition, for a quick glance meaning or to identify the sense being sought.