This software package provides a digital, network-accessible interface for the comprehensive lexicographical data contained within the Oxford English Dictionary. The Oxford University Press, through its editorial and technical staff, developed this version to facilitate multi-user access to the historical and etymological records of the English language. It serves as a digital repository designed for institutional environments requiring simultaneous access to standardized linguistic definitions and usage history.

Experts recognize this version as a foundational step in the digitization of major reference works for institutional networks. Users frequently note the technical requirements for legacy hardware and the specific limitations of CD-ROM based software in modern computing environments.