Chambers Dictionary [sometimes cross-ref with 2-vol Compact Ox, COD, Collins, Hamlyn; but Chambers always first point of ref].
Oxford & Roget's Thesauruses.
Kettridge's small French-English dictionary for quick check, Larousse ditto for serious stuff.
Partridge Dict of Slang and Unconventional English.
Ox Dict of Proverbs.
Old (1970s) Whitakers Almanac for occasional check on the Peerage &c [run into a lord or lady every little once in a while!, or need for some reason to recall which peer has which family name or vice-versa].
Very occasional use of Latin, Italian, German -Eng dictionaries.
Longmans Pronouncing Dictionary [tho my late wife made much more use of this & I probably wouldn't own it if I hadn't inherited it].
Sometimes actually use my beloved 18C edition of Johnson's original Dict, a family heirloom since my uncle bought it absurdly cheap in Cambridge in 1920s.
Same applies to my buying of a 19C Doré illustrated Bible bought at same Cambridge bookshop for 10/- [= nowadays 50p!] in my own 1950s student days, which now my main ref Bible, tho teeny-weeny itsy-bitsy CUP pocket-sized one which sits on my desk can be useful if a magnifying glass is to hand.
Crudens Biblical Concord.
Owens Dictionary of Philosophy.

But more & more, alas, Google is becoming the first, and often last, place of resort...

You too?


~Michael~