Dictionary Representation of the Semantics of Adjectives Signifying Emotions.

The article focuses on the representation of the semantics of adjectives signifying emotions in five major British monolingual learners' dictionaries (MLDs). It analyzes twenty-four emotion adjectives, both basic (e.g., angry, happy, sad) and complex (e.g., embarrassed, relieved, anxious), assessing definitions, examples, grammatical information, and additional dictionary features. The study finds that definitions predominantly rely on synonyms and often lack consistent causal explanations or descriptions of experiencers' reactions, while examples sometimes illustrate prototypical scenarios but vary in usefulness. The paper proposes a three-part model for defining emotion adjectives—stating the emotion type, providing causal context, and describing typical behavioral reactions—and offers recommendations to improve clarity and consistency in dictionary entries for foreign language learners.