Capitalization

Most entries in this dictionary begin with a lowercase letter. A few of these have an italicized label often capitalized, which indicates that the word is as likely to be capitalized as not, that it is as acceptable with an uppercase initial as it is with one in lowercase. Some entries begin with an uppercase letter, which indicates that the word is usually capitalized. The absence of an initial capital or of an often capitalized label indicates that the word is not ordinarily capitalized:

lunk·head . . . noun
gar·gan·tuan . . . adjective, often capitalized
Mo·hawk . . . noun

The capitalization of entries that are open or hyphenated compounds is similarly indicated by the form of the entry or by an italicized label:

obstacle course noun
neo-Ex·pres·sion·ism . . . noun, often capitalized N
off-off-Broadway noun, often capitalized both Os
un-Amer·i·can . . . adjective
Dutch oven noun
Old Glory noun

A word that is capitalized in some senses and lowercase in others shows variations from the form of the main entry by the use of italicized labels at the appropriate senses:

re·nais·sance . . . noun . . . 1 capitalized . . .2 often capitalized
Shet·land . . . noun . . . 2 often not capitalized
Trin·i·ty . . . noun . . . 2 not capitalized

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