On the Nested Approach to the Representation of Derived Words in an Explanatory Dictionary (in view of the Description of Nouns Ending in -(е)ств(о)//-stv(í)/-(c)tv(í) in Bulgarian and Czech)

The article compares the approaches to the representation of the abstract nouns ending in -(е)ств(о)//-stv(í)/-(c)tv(í) adopted in two one-volume explanatory dictionaries of Bulgarian and Czech, respectively, that employ the alphabetical-nested arrangement of the words. A large part of the abstract nouns refer to the dictionary entry of another word without being interpreted themselves. I argue that this is justified only in the case of true transpositional nomina essendi derivatives included in the derivational nest of a qualitative adjective headword. In the remaining cases analysed in the study, it is necessary to define the lexical meaning of the derivatives ending in -(е)ств(о)//-stv(í)/-(c)tv(í) separately, as it differs significantly from the meaning of the motivating words (usually – nouns for persons). Abstract nouns should accordingly be represented as separate headwords. I conclude that the alphabetical-nested principle should be applied with caution in explanatory dictionaries, always taking into account the peculiarities of the derived lexemes.