Dr Samuel Johnson's Dictionary Masterpiece
June 1746 deeply dissatisfied
with the dictionaries of the period
London booksellers contracted
Dr Samuel Johnson to write
'A Dictionary of the English Language'
15 April 1755 finally published.
Johnson took nine years to create
an authoritative dictionary of the English language
could finish in three years he claimed?
Preposterous Académie Française employed;
in comparison over forty learned scholars
spending needing forty years to complete;
its dictionary in the French language.
Forty Frenchmen times forty years
is not nine but 1600 years to complete.
Miracle miracle Johnson 1591 years defeats.
For what princely sum did Johnson contract
with William Strahan and printer associates;
a preeminent Dictionary in English to complete?
18 June 1746 in historic morning was signed
a project prestigious contact worth 1,500 guineas?
This sum of 1,500 guineas is
in pounds £1,575 equivalent
in 2012 to about £230,000.
A consortium of London's most
successful printers including Robert
Dodsley, Thomas Longman, would
finance a dictionary none could afford;
on such scale to undertake alone, thus was
contracted to be; a meticulous feat of legend.
Twas said 'the world contemplated
with wonder so stupendous a work achieved
by one man, while other countries
had thought such undertakings
fit only for whole academies'.'
OED took writers 70 years to complete.
Johnson's Dictionary unlike all proto-dictionaries;
earlier printed painstaking care exhibited
an exact completeness in illustrations definitions.
Upon bold title page was proud acknowledged;
Oxford had awarded Johnson a Master of Arts
degree in anticipation of so great an achievement.
This titanic marvel an unprecedented;
dictionary contained pages 18 inches
46 cm tall nearly 20 inches 50 cm wide.
Paper chosen was of the finest;
quality available running to a cost
of near £1,600 more than sum paid;
to Johnson to write what he pronounced
to be 'Vasta mole superbus' 'Proud
in its great bulk' a marvelous achievement.
No book this size except a few special editions;
of the Bible had even been set to type thus
no single bookseller could this book hope to print.
With pride Dr Samuel Johnson proclaims his;
'A Dictionary of the English Language' as words
deduced from their originals illustrated;
in their different significations by examples;
from the best writers to which he had prefixed
an English Grammar a history of the language.
Revolutionary genius Johnson's important;
innovation was to illustrate the meanings
of words with famous English literary quotations;
approximately 114,000 by the best writers;
Shakespeare, Milton and Dryden were authors
by Johnson most frequently included cited.
The colossal work each copy cost £4/10/- equivalent;
to £675 in 2005, a small fortune, so exorbitant an amount,
that five editions and thirty years later only copies 6,000;
had been sold averaging 200 books a year for thirty years.
Publication universal appreciation a standing ovation heralds
honours innovative content and Johnson's efforts to create it.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Related quotes
Oats. A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.
Samuel Johnson in A Dictionary of the English Language
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Who Wonders About Spellings?
who wonders about spellings?
judgement made and judgment passed
a word application flags judgement
as an incorrect spelling
but a rolling stone gathers no moss
search the word online
a kiwi familiar with both
British and American spellings
instantly searches in mind
both judgement and judgment
occur with seemingly equal frequency
one English the other American?
Dictionary English
Dictionary American
Program setting in computer?
What a bother!
If both are OK
on differing sides of pond?
Yes Yes you guess
you could...
updat your dictionary?
by adding
the 'judgement'
spelling
but doing
so might
lend
it will it will
assistance...
to spelling
inconsistencies
a certain probability
yes yes a 'judgment call'
your wondering
why the two spellings?
now your saying
you would have to say
British spelling is judgement
American spelling is judgment
now your quoting
early twentieth century?
when H. W. Fowler
was writing
his influential
book on usage
a personal opinion
the spelling judgment
was research evidently
being used
by a lot
of British writers?
It is the British spelling
it is the British rule
for all British spellings!
All American writers
use American spellings
unless living in Britain?
Canada Australia
New Zealand India
Commonwealth nations?
according to Fowler
'modern usage'
favored judgment?
nevertheless
Fowler and the OED
preferred judgement?
What rot old bean
Henry Watson Fowler
was an English schoolmaster
a lexicographer
and commentator
on the usage
of the English language
notable for both achievements
'A Dictionary of Modern English Usage'
and work on the 'Concise Oxford Dictionary'
described by 'The Times'
as 'a lexicographical genius'
he was English following
English spellings
English rules
pure simple or researched
how bizarre to come so far from
judgement to judgment made
but for a different spin read on in
judgements of a poet fanciful made
when waxing romantic artful
'When Soul Walked Night Visions'
when waxing playful insightful delightful
'A Desire To Know Deep Meanings'
explores shift changes in dictionaries made
or knock upon histories door for origins
'Dr Samuel Johnson's Dictionary Masterpiece'
cross channel 'Webster's American Spellings'
final 'Judgement Of A Word' brings us
full circle global internet on line spellings
to swiftly search out basic online meanings
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Webster's American Spellings
One spelling was English established.
Webster's Dictionary spells it incorrect?
Noah Webster in the early 19th century...
busily composed comprehensive dictionaries.
Numerous unrelated dictionaries added
Webster's name to share prestige established.
Oh bother Webster's first dictionary
‘A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language'
aired first appeared in 1806 was hexed?
With American spellings it was freely littered?
Spelling honor not honour center not centre.
Webster's program not programme spread what?
Two decades of his spelling confusions expanded?
An ‘American Dictionary of the English Language'
in 1828 lead in 1841 to his edition revised expanded?
In two volumes a 2nd Edition ‘Corrected Enlarged'?
Webster's vocabulary 1st edition with corrections
improvements plus five thousand additional words?
But acid test Webster's endeavors were poorly received?
Specific criticisms typographic unattractiveness included?
Webster's type face was bad choice too small hard to read?
Why write non-use of capital letters only 'God' capitalized?
Why because goal was to save space to fit in obscure words?
Why dictionary excessive use of citations which offended?
Why decision deliberate
misspellings as legitimate
sanctified word variants?
Culturally conservative Federalists
intensely detested Webster innovations
Webster Dictionary denounced?
Webster's Dictionary
too radical complaint
bordering on vulgar?
Webster's fierce foes
Jefferson Madison
Republicans attacked?
Labeled Webster mad
for writing Compendious
Dictionary 1806 published?
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Your Dictionary
H-a-t-e
Is that how you spell love in your dictionary
K-i-c-k
Pronounced as kind
F-u-c-k
Is that how you spell friend in your dictionary
Black on black
A guidebook for the blind
Well now that I can see my eyes wont weep
Now that I can hear your song sounds cheap
Now that I can talk all your corn Ill reap
Im not so sure that joey wed a virgin mary
There are no words for me inside your dictionary
S-l-a-p
Is that how you spell kiss in your dictionary
C-o-l-d
Pronounced as care
S-h-i-t
Is that how you spelt me in your dictionary
Four-eyed fool
You led round everywhere
Now that I can see its the queens new clothes
Now that I can hear all your poison prose
Now that I can talk with my tongue unfroze
Im not so sure of santa or the buck-tooth fairy
There are no words for me inside your dictionary
Now your laughter has a hollow ring
But the hollow ring has no finger in
So lets close the book and let the day begin
And our marriage be undone
song performed by by Xtc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Desire To Know Deep Meanings
Dictionary!
My Dictionary!
Raise it high in your right hand!
We shall use it
we shall use it to explore
to seek out...
the meaning of words
the meaning behind words
the multiple hidden meaning of life.
Amen.
Because modern computer dictionaries
really blow... they do, not, contain,
varied rich poetical meanings of words...
as some of my youthful dictionaries did
stimulating imagination, thought, wonder,
stimulating a desire to know deep meanings...
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Godliness
Riffling through the dictionary
of the mind - or, as the Anglo-Saxons
named it, ‘word-hoard’ -
for a word that exactly matches
what needs to be said,
a word may call out from the page
like that kitten or that puppy
in the pet-shop, which devastatingly
looks you straight in the eye and mutely says
‘Master, treasure me…’
so, the other day, ‘godly’ called to me: as
abbreviated in former times from ‘godlike’;
not a word to suit, say, those fine-minded Hindu pundits
who would want to classify its degrees
of nearness or of distance from the state
of god or gods..
rather, a gentle, misty, English-weather, modest-shining word
which – borrowing a trick from those same
Hindu grammarians – is neither limited, nor unlimited;
or alternatively: is both limited, and unlimited;
allows for small-g god, or big-G God;
allows for frequent changes in the weather;
and thus, will halt at all the stations on the line…
so, stopped in the street by
some presumptuous well-intentioned stranger
with that piercing eye that stoppeth one of three,
enquiring ‘Have you been saved by Jesus yet? ’
we may reply as if we were Dr Johnson
of quirky diction and of his own Dictionary fame,
replying, ‘Sir, my mind has godly inclinations…’
Yes, I’m comfortable with ‘godly’: like
that kitten or that puppy, asking
no more of you than what
shared nature with a smile
feeds and loves..
poem by Michael Shepherd
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At Cheshire Cheese
When first of wise old Johnson taught,
My youthful mind its homage brought,
And made the pond'rous crusty sage
The object of a noble rage.
Nor did I think (How dense we are!)
That any day, however far,
Would find me holding, unrepelled,
The place that Doctor Johnson held!
But change has come and time has moved,
And now, applauded, unreproved,
I hold, with pardonable pride,
The place that Johnson occupied.
Conceit! Presumption! What is this?
You surely read my words amiss;
Like Johnson I,--a man of mind!
How could you ever be so blind?
No. At the ancient 'Cheshire Cheese,'
Blown hither by some vagrant breeze,
To dignify my shallow wit,
In Doctor Johnson's seat I sit!
poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar
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The habit of looking on the best side of every event is worth more than a thousand pounds a years.
quote by Samuel Johnson
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To Mrs. Thrale on Her Completing Her Thirty-fifth Year
Oft in danger, yet alive,
We are come to thirty-five;
Long may better years arrive,
Better years than thirty-five.
Could philosophers contrive
Life to stop at thirty-five,
Time his hours should never drive
O'er the bounds of thirty-five
High to soar, and deep to dive,
Nature gives at thirty-five.
Ladies, stop and tend your hive,
Trifle not at thirty-five;
For, howe'er we boast and strive,
Life declines from thirty-five:
He that ever hopes to thrive
Must begin by thirty-five:
And all who wisely wish to wive
Must look on Thrale at thirty-five.
poem by Samuel Johnson
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Judgement Of A Word
Global internet on line
American spelling machine?
When searching online
will flag British judgement
as spelling incorrect
will insist on US judgment
yet is this judgement correct?
Both judgment and judgement
occur with equal frequency set?
One spelling English one American
what a bother when both are correct?
Will you your online dictionary update?
Your own personal ‘judgment call' abridgment?
This choice spelling inconsistencies will assist?
Still wondering why the two spellings resist?
To this question trade English American
politics dark flavours a colonial twist?
War of 1812 sabres parent British patron.
Oxford English Dictionary preferred
judgement a war of words is absurd.
1812 fosters nationalism independent.
Judgement remained form sanctioned
in the Bible in new Revised Version.
Older English spelling recommended.
Shakespeare plays judgment US spelt.
Judgement rules British English text.
Rule is spell consistently either is best.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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I just felt all along that if I could get a certain amount of years in the league, have great years and still have my health when I walked away, that would be great.
quote by Kevin Johnson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The entities
A sentence is of words,
All borrowed from the dictionary.
Yet it has a soul
Unfound in the dictionary.
All are made of five elements;
Yet each has an entity.
06.02.2005
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
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Coven Of Books
Luckily my new red chair does not
provide the care I expected, thus
soft cover copies of "The Choice
for Love" by Rodegast and Stanton
and "La Grammaire à l'Oeuvre" by
Barson have to support my back
Keyboard elevated upon Harrap's
New French/English Dictionary &
screen perched atop Webster's 3rd
International Dictionary, children's
books, Oxford Hachette and old
diaries strewn about me
It is lucky I love books in all forms,
constructing a coven of books the
next best thing to actually reading
enchanting volumes; many eye-
witness accounts attest to the
existence of Akashic records
To be studied to learn everything,
awareness after physical death
promises to hold such bookish
delights, I am thrilled, hope
to meet some fellow
book-lovers there!
poem by Margaret Alice Second
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Johnson, alias Crow
Where the seasons are divided and the bush begins to change,
and the links are rather broken in the Great Dividing Range;
where the atmosphere is hazy underneath the summer sky,
lies the little town of Eton, rather westward of Mackay.
Near the township, in the graveyard, where the dead of Eton go,
lies the body of a sinner known as “Johnson alias Crow”.
He was sixty-four was Johnson, and in other days, lang syne,
was apprenticed to a ship-wright in the land across the Rhine;
but, whatever were his prospects in the days of long ago,
things went very bad with Johnson—Heinrich Johnson (alias Crow).
He, at Eton—where he drifted in his age, a stranded wreck—
got three pounds by false pretences, in connection with a cheque.
But he didn’t long enjoy it, the police soon got to know;
and the lockup closed on Johnson, lonely Johnson alias Crow.
Friday night, and Crow retired, feeling, as he said, unwell;
and the warder heard the falling of a body in the cell.
Going in, the warder saw him bent with pain and crouching low—
Death had laid his hand on Johnson, Heinrich Johnson, alias Crow.
Then the constable bent o’er him—asked him where he felt the pain. Johnson only said, “I’m dying”—and he never spoke again.
They had waited for a witness, and the local people say
Johnson’s trial would have ended on that very Saturday;
but he took his case for judgment where our cases all must go,
and the higher court is trying Heinrich Johnson (alias Crow).
poem by Henry Lawson
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yes, what if God does not speak english at all?
you were not born yesterday
and probably heard it before
that if your God does not speak english
then he must not be God
of course, something arrogant
hangs in the air
of this effortless superiority that
'englishers'
'english-plongplangs'
clai m, which, of course, we
always oppose and dub
as prettry dumb silly
but anyhow, yes, we are asked again
what if?
what if, this God, does not really speak English?
well, of course, he is still God
and he must not have considered the english language
that important
and i agree, even if i speak it,
i still have this language
of my soul,
albeit, in english, for you,
who does not speak my own language,
yes, of course, for you to perhaps
understand,
but i like it though, this thought
that God does not speak
the english language, lest, he may sound
so englishly, oh well,
arrogant.....
dear God
do you really...not speak english?
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Language is the dress of thought.
quote by Samuel Johnson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In fact when Sweet Honey was ten years old it was too big for me to run, and I knew it, but I ran it for another thirteen years because I couldn't convince other people to really do it. And this year, I'm not running it.
quote by Bernice Johnson Reagon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Language is only the instrument of science, and words are but the signs of ideas.
quote by Samuel Johnson
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Scholar's Life
Mark what ills the scholar’s life assail,
toil, envy want, the garret and the jail,
and others Dr. Johnson has omitted,
like friends who think he ought to be committed
by men with licenses and long white coats
who do not care for all the things he quotes,
and patrons who have never gone to college,
who hope that words he uses to acknowledge
their help will make them so respectable
that they to higher office are electable,
and scholars who search carefully his writings
for their own names in small print in the citings
of footnotes, endnotes, all the apparatus
which basically for them is all that matters,
protected by their status and their tenure,
manure some pile on, some pile on womenure.
To toil and envy, garret and the jail,
add steps some make to make their rivals fail.
These are some ills befalling scholars’ lives;
survivors are the ones with lovely wives.
Frank Kermode reviews several books on Dr. Johnson in the NYR, June 22,2006:
When Johnson’s poem “The Vanity of Human Wishes” was first published in 1749, it contained this couplet:
…mark what ills the scholar’s life assail,
Toil, envy, want, the garret at the jail.
In the second edition of 1755, “garret” is changed to “patron.”
6/11/06
poem by Gershon Hepner
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The Warranty Clause
THE WARRANTY CLAUSE
So many of us are quite averse to use a dictionary
As it endangers in exposing our own level of illiteracy
With the limited stock of fixed vocabulary
We try to show off a fair and workable intimacy
We are in full praise for the toil of Mr. Sammuel Johnson
Let the literary worry of all those jargons
As a layman, I am not to run after the apt, best words
Neither I make it a profession as a teacher of English
Since my word power skills are too narrow and shallow
I fear poetry as hard tablets to swallow
At one reading it ought to go down the throat like milk- halwa
Without my having to overdo for just to grasp and follow
For an average reader with extra winged interests
I have an infant mix in a feeding- bottle ready
Lazy or busy, you are sure to be at ease and stirring
Only to rediscover the goodness of hither to hateful poetry
Louis Santhana
poem by Santhana Louis
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