Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-08-04
WEBSTER'S
NEW DACYlO.< ARY.

5. CONVERSE proposes to publish by subs
scription an AMERICAN DICTIONARY of
of the English language. BIZ NOAH WEBSTER,
L. L. ID.
This Dictionary will contain such parts of the
best English Dictionaries as are we'll executed
with the following improvements:
l. additional WordS. The new words which
the great advances in the physical sciences,
within the last forty or fifty years, have enrich
ed the language, and which are not inserted
in Johnson's Dictionary, nor the late improved
edition by Todd, amount to five or six thou.
sand. These, with the participates and other
words added, will augment the vocabulary
with nearly twenty thousand words.
g. Precise and Technical Definitions. The
Dictionaries hitherto published are almost ex-
clusively translating dictionaries, in which one
word is defined by another that is synony-
nous, or nearly so. OF this kind of dictiona-
ries and lexicons, we have many of great ex-
cellence. But if there is any dictionary Of
the English language of price which places
it within the means "a purchase which teach
ers in general possess, in which definitions are
sufficiently accurate, discriminating and tech
nica that work has not come to the knowl-
edge of the author OF the proposed Dictiona-
ry. The precision of definitions in this work
will, it is believed, supercede the necessity OF
book of synyms.
8. .4dciinonal &gmfcations. The signifca-
tons and distinct applications of English
words, which are omitted by all the English
photographers, and are inserted in this work,
amount to between thirty and fifty thousand.
Many of these are among the most important
senses in which the words are used.
d. .Nezo Chronological Deductions and dbfni.
mites. The obscurty which has rested on this
subject, and which has brought it into discre-
dit, will be, in good degree, dissipated by the
authors researches, and etymology will be
made subservient to the illustration not only
OF words, but OF history. This part of the
work is the result of ten years. examination,
and comparison OF the principal radical words
in the following languages the Chaiaee, ST.
f'iac, Hebrew, AraJic, Samaritan, Ethiobic, and
Peraic, in Asia and Africa, and in Europe, the
Gaelic or Mberno- Celtic, Anglo .Soroa Engksh,
German Dutch, Szveaish, Danish, Greek, Latin,
Italian spanish, French, Russ, Gothic, Welsh,
and .4rmOr1c. 1t is found that all these lam
guages serve to illustrate each other and are
useful in calculating the English. synopsis
of the principal words in the languages has
been compiled, and will be published, if sutfi-
Gent patronage can hereafter be obtained.
In the mean time, the results of this labor,
which will appear in the Dictionary, will pre-
sent, on this subject, interesting views of the
history and aihnities of these languages which
have escaped the observation OF European
photographers
! S. The peculiar scriptural uses of words,
most Of which are omitted by English authors
of dictionaries are explained and exempiified,
e. The words beginning with are separat-
ed from those which begin with J, as are those
which begin with u from those which begin
with y.
z. Obsolete words, and words of local use,
| are noted as such, and the different applica.
tions of words in England and IN the United
States, are specified as far they are known.
The obsolete words include all that have been
found i'll books from the age of Cover, and
the law terms from the Norman French.
8. The different Specifications or applica-
tons of words, when not obvious and well
known, are illustrated by some short passage
from an author of reputation, or by brief IA
miliar sentence. EXemplifications. however,
are not multiplied under each definition, as
the most judcIous scholars consider one ex-
ample as sufficient, and numerous extracts
from books serve only to swell the size and
price OF a dictionary. American writer's of
, reputation are placed on footing with Eng,
lish writers, and cited as authorities.
9. Many errors, which have escaped the no.
tice of all English photographers, are correct
ed.
TO- Words of irregular or,hography are
given, not only in the customary spelling, but
in letters which express the true pronunca-
ton. This will be sufficient guide to the
pronunciation, without the use of key.
The publisher undertakes this work, with
full confidence that his efforts will be literally
encouraged by the literary and wealthy classes
of the community. 1t is work adapted to
the wants and capacity of the man of business
as well as of the scholar. 1t is a work of mag
nitude, and cannot be published without great
expense, and therefore it cannot be undertake
en- without liberal patronage. To its pages
Mr.. Webster has devoted from twenty to thir-
ty years of almost exclusive and laborious APP
plication. Of the result OF this application,
the publisher submits the following opinions,
as expressed in letters addressed to himself,
from gentlemen whose names have long been
conspicuous to the American public. The
work is .fmericGn, and is to confer honor on
the nation, as well as on the learned and indie
fatigable author. The communications are
inserted in the order of the dates.
TThen follow concentrations from some
of the most distinguished literary characters
in the United States.]
PRICE-Prnted on linen bGbsr--5ouid in
boards, TWENTY DOLLARS.