Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-09-30
FROM THE rDlroR's PREFACE.

FROM THE EDITORS PREFACE.
"The Dictionary, which is now offered to
the publick, founded upon the great work
OF Johnson, corrected and enlarged by Mr..
Todd; and it embraces, also, the entire Ia
bours of Walker on the pronunciation of
the language. 1t has been formed on such
| plan as to comprise all the most important
materials, and to answer all the essential
uses OF Dictionary for understanding,
writing, and speaking the English Language,
| and at the same time, to enable the reader
to see, as far as possible, on whose authority
every thing rests"
DR.. Johnson's large Dictionary was first
published in l755. During the space of up
wards of seventy years, which have since
passed away, the English Language has
undergone considerable change and if. to
use the words of the great Iexicographer.
mo dictionary of living tongue can ever
be perfect, since, while it is hastning to
publication, some words are budding, and
some falling away his work must neces-
sarlly display the language more imperfect
~ now, than at the time of its first appear
ance But the earlier English authors have
OF late excited so much attention, as to rem
DER glossary of their productions desirable.
MI. Todd has, accordingly, undertaken to
ADAPT the dictionary to the present taste
with regard to English literature. by insert
ing the words found in the old, and hereto.
tore neglected, writer's; and also To the
present state OF the language, by adding
snch words as have come into use since the
nrst publication of the work. BY turning
over the pages OF this volume, and observing.
the words which are marKeu as duued bV
Mr.. Todd, one will readily perceive that
dictionary, which was destitute of all such,
would be extremely defective. But on the
labours of Mr.. Todd, which indicate very
extensive reading, especially as it regards
the early English writers, it is unnecessary
to enlarge, as his own account of them is
presented to the reader.
"The following notice is perfixed to Mr..
Chalmers's Abridgement:- This volume
contains every word in Mr.. Todd's edition
of DIR. Johnson's Dictionary; and above
fourteen thousand more than were given in
Dr. Johnson's Abridgement. The whole,
forms the most extensive vocabulary ever
published, and, in consequence of the addi-
ton introduced by Mr.. Todd, it becomes a
complete glossary of the early English wri-
ters.' Mr. Chalmers's work was formed from
Mr.. Todd's first edition. His second editiona
which was published in February, 1897,
contains nearly a thousand additional words,
and was received in season to be inserted in
the Appendix of this Dictionary. These.
together with the other words newly added.
increase the excess above the number Of
words in DIR. Johnson's Arrangement to up-
wards of fifteen thousand"
"The Dictionary, properly so called, COM
prlslng the vocabulary of words with their
definitions, &c. is formed chiefly by union
of Mr. Chalmers's Arrangement and Wal
ker's Pronouncing Dictionary; but with the
omission Of Walkers definitions, except
with regard to those words in his Dictionary
not much exceeding one hundred in num-
ber,) which are not found in Mr.. Todd's edi-
ton OF Johnson. In many instances, in
which the Editor has observed the omission
by Mr.. Chalmers of something particularly
important, he has extracted from DIR. Johnson
or Mr.. Todd additional matter or remarks
genealogical, explanatory, or critical.
10 the words contained in this Dictiona-
ry, which are not found in Walkers. the
pronunciation has been added, according to
walkers Principles, SO far as those Princi-
pies could be applied and this was easily
done, with respect to most of them. A con-
siderable number, however, some of them
words now out of use, others local or pro-
ylncIai, and rarely found in books, and 9th
ers from foreign languages, and not angli-
cisco, presented more or less difficulty"
with respect to many words of doubtful
pronunciation CT or concerning which, orthoe
pists differ, and particularly those respecting
winch Walker has omitted to exhibit his diff.
ference, the Editor introduced the rronun-
clations OF others, with the names of the
authorities, enclosed in brackets; yet, in all
cases, making use of Walkers method of
notation. BY this means, the Dictionary
mas been rendered more satisfactory as, in
an doubtful cases, it must be agreeable to
thoSe who consult it, to see the different
modes OF different orthoepists."
The Appendix contains all the words
newly added by Mr.. Todd in his second