Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1871-11-29
WOrcester's English Die
tiOuuI.V..

Boston, ~ Dictionary or the
English Language, by Joseph
e. Worcester, Ill. d." in n
magnificent qlarto volume Of
1854 rayes. The first ap
pearance of this work, ten
years ago, was an era in Eng
Iish lexicography.
1t was the first English die
tionary which had any claim to
be regarded as presentation
Of our entire mother tongue, as
it exists in the speech and lit
prature> Of this century, as 4
ffaet and apart from al theo
rits and devices for improving
it. In this point Of view wei.
coined heartily l,y scholars,
and through their influence
rapidly gained favor among
the people, so that it became
almost at once the generally
acknowledged standard Of cor.
rectnossr beth in writing and
in speaking, both for the form
and for the meaning of words.
1t has now been long enough
in use, hy thousands OF critical
minds, to have been tested
thoroughly at every point; and
it is saying far less than might
be sustained to say that it has
fully maintained is pre-
eminence.
A detailed review of such a
work is of course impossible
here, and could only be under
taken properly By one who
should carefully revise it for a
new edition. Such a revision,
will be needed at a distant
day; for although there is no
point in which the superiority
of this to every other English
dictionary is more unquestiona.
bic than in its ctymology; yet
the more careful and thorough
study Of this subject in late
years has created II demand for
a still more scientific and ac
curate digest Of the results al
Hready obtained, Many of the
etymologivs here given are IN
complete or unsatisfactory
SOME, but very few, can be
positively called. erroneous
But the true value of such an
genealogical count of eatL
word as can he given by &
general dictionary Of the
language does not seem tc
have been kept clearly in view
Thus curious analogies, spec
ulative deii1ationS, and isola,
ted comparative forms in sister
tongues have a very limited
value indeed IN such a wo.k
The object ought to be give
in the most general outlines
the history Of the word; indi
eating, in the rough, at least
how it came to have the form
and meaning is bears.
Dr. Worcester's book j,
always suggestive and interes
ting Oh this head; often full
and usually accurate, but it 'i,
still far beyond the ideal of al
English lexicon; and mucl
labor must be given to the in
corporation IN it of the best re
suits reached by recent stud
ents of the language, before We
have in English a work whicl
can rank with the best diction
nries of the classical tongues
or even with those Of the
French and German.
But the practical value O
such a work depends more
upon other features than upor
its etymology. 1t is consulted
IN nineteen cases out Of twenty
to determine either the mean
ing, the spelling, or the pro
nunciation ola word.
In the first OF these uses, de
tinition, DR.. Worcester's die
tionory has a formidable riva
in the later improved editions
Of that Of his predecessor, DR.
Noah Webster. There are {
great many words, TO n critica'
mind, better defined in The
latter work; which, indeed
exhibits throughout much
more ingenuity in detecting
and exposing shades Of mean
ing. This ingenuity, however