This Day in History: 1775-04-15

On this day in 1775 Samuel Johnson’s epic work ‘A Dictionary of the English Language’ was first published on this day in 1775. The quality of English dictionaries prior to Johnson’s , were very weak and in 1746 a group of London booksellers commissioned Johnson to produce a much improved dictionary for 1,500 guineas (the equivalent of £210,000 today). Johnson set to work and in a little over eight years the ‘Dictionary of the English Language’ was complete. Johnson hired just six helpers to complete the works containing 42,773 entries defined in detail. His was the first dictionary to also contain quotes (some 114,000) as an example of the words use and this influenced most of the dictionaries that have followed. In contrast the French Academy took 55 years and 40 scholars to produce the ‘Dictionnarre’. Johnson’s dictionary famously contains many quotes with what has been described as ‘a personal touch’ and some of these include. Lexicographer: A writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge that busies himself in tracing the original, and detailing the signification of words. Oats: A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland appears to support the people. Patron: One who countenances, supports or protects. Commonly a wretch who supports with insolence, and is paid with flattery. To worm: To deprive a dog of something, nobody knows what, under his tongue, which is said to prevent him, nobody knows why, from running mad.