Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-06-23
WEBSTER'S
NEW DACTlOEARX.

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S. CONVERSE proposes to publish by SUBJ
scrption an AMERICAN DICTIONARY of
of the English language. BrNoAH WEBSTER,
l.. l.. ID.
This Dictionary will contain such parts of the
best English Dictionaries asare well executed,
with the following improvements:
/. Additional Words. The new words which
the great advances in the physical sciences,
within the last forty or fftyyears, have enrich.
ed the language, and which are not inserted
in Johnson's Dictionary, nor the late improved
edition by Todd, amount 10 five or six thou
sand. These, with the participates and other
words added, will augment the vocabulary
with nearly twenty thousand words.
9 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 it there is any dictionary of
the English language, of price which places
1t within the means Of purchase which teach
ers in general possess, in which definitions are
sufficiently accurate, discriminating and tech
meal, 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
a book of synyms.
g. additional Specifications. The signiiica-
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.
a. .Ne1o Eymoiogical Deductions and G6fni-
mites. The obscurity which has rested on this
subject and which has brought it into discre-
dit, will be, in good degree, disslpated by the
authors researches, and etymology will be
made subservent 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 Chaddee, Su-
riac, Hebrew, .Arabic, Samaritan, Ethiopic, and
Persic, in Asia and Africa, and in Europe, the
Gaelic or Hberno- Celtic, .4nglo Saron, English,
German dutch, S7oedish, Danish, Greek, Latin,
Italian, Spanish, French, RuSs, Gothic, Weish,
and .i,ano,ac. IT is found that all these Ian
guages serve to illustrate each other and are
useful in calculating the English. A synopsis
of the principal words in the languages has
been compiled, and will be published, if suffi-
cient patronage can hereafter be obtained.
which will appear in the Dictionary, will pre-
sent, on this subject, interesting views of the
history and atiinites 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 exempIfied.
6. The words beginning with are separat
ed from those which begin with J, as are those
winch begin with U from those which begin
with y
Z. Obsolete words, and words of local use,
are noted as such, and the different appllca-
tons of words in England and in the United
States, are specified as far as they are known.
The obsolete words include all that have been
found in 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 a brief IA
miar sentence. Exempiitications. however,
are not multiplied under each definition, as
the most judcous scholars consider one ex-
ample as sufficient, and numerous extracts
from books serve only to swell the size and
price OF dictionary. American writer's of
reputation are placed on a footing with Eng
lish writers, and cited as authorities.
9 Many errors, which have escaped the no.
tce OF all English photographers, are correct
ed.
10. Words of irregular photography are
given, not only in the customary spelling, but
in letters which express the true pronuncia-
ton. This will be sufficient guide to the
pronunciation, without the use of a 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
bitude, and cannot be published without great
expense, and therefore it cannot be undertake
en- without liberal patronage. To it's pages
Mr.. Webster has devoted from twenty to thir-
ty years of almost exclusive and laborous APP
pcation. 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 american, and is to confer honor on
the nation, as well as on he learned and indie
fatigable author. The communications are
inserted in the order of the dates.
fThen follow recommendations from some
of the most distinguished literary characters
in the United States.
THE RTM