Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-06-19
THE CENTURY DICTIONARY.

|
pairing dictionary of the English
J language, Of which Professor Will
liam D. Whitney, of Yale College, is
editor-in-chief.-the purpose being
to make more comprehensive work
than has yet appeared in popular
form, to include, in addition to a
very full collection of individual
words in all departments of the Ian
guage, all technical phrases, not
selfexplaining, in law, the mechan-
ical arts, the sciences, etc. Indeed,
1t is designed to make this diction.
airy so complete in its definitions OF
all branches of science and art
that even the specialist will need
nothing further. The number OF
"new" words in many of these de.
partments is said to be surprisingly
great. The dictionary will have al
so a remarkably complete system of
cross-references, and will embody in
itself a dictionary ofsynonyms which
will add greatly to It's value.
A prominent feature of the new
work will be its encyclopedia charac-
ter. Its definitions will be fuller and
more complete than is customary in
works of this kind it will go further
into the various uses and meanings
of words, and in many cases will
give full explanations and descrip-
tions of matters historical, scientific,
legal, mechanical, etc. Quite an
army of persons has been at work
for several years reading standard
American and English books in
search of quotations, of which an
| immense number will be used.
American writer's, such as Emerson,
Lowell, Hawthorne, irving, Whit
tier, Longfellow, Holmes, and our
distinguished scientists, are receiv-
ing special attention.
The publishers are taking great
pains with the illustrations, of which
there will be about 5000. They are
employing the same class of artists
and engravers that contribute to
their magazines, and they mean to
make the result something hitherto
unknown in the world Of diction
aries. Each picture as it is engrav-
ed, is submitted to the specialist to
whose department it belongs, that
its scientific accuracy may be guar
anteed. OF these specialists there
are about thirty, working at their
homes in New York, Baltimore,
Washington, New Haven, Cam
bridge, and elsewhere, each being
Individually responsible for all I'M
der the general supervision of Pro
lessor Whitney, who will himself
have special charge of the definitions
in the department of philology, in
which he is famous, and of the spell
ing and pronunciation. 1t is under
stood that he will not adopt a phon-
etic method of spelling, though on
theoretical grounds he is known to
favor it. Professor Whitney is not
recognized as the most eminent
American philologist, but the Lon
don Saturday Reuieao has recently
] pronounced him the foremost Eng.
lish speaking scholar in his depart
ment. In addition to the specialists,
a force of about fifty assistants has
been busy collating material and pre-
pairing copy for the printer, the fin
al work on which is done with type.
writing machines at The Century
Co.'s office.
The inception of this scheme was
"a desire to improve and American.
ize the "Imperial Dictionary OF
Great Britain, brought out in this
country by The Century Go. five
years ago. As the work of altering
it advanced, it became apparent
that better plan was to begin de-
moro, and so the far greater work OF
making a new dictionary Of the Eng
llsll language was begun. Two OF
| three years must still elapse before
it will appear, and in the mean time
opportunity is offered by the pub
fishers to those Interested in helping
OH so useful work to contribute
material and suggestions to it. Much
valuable matter has been received
in this way from many scholars and
practical men all over the world.
1t is estimated that upwards of q
quarter of a million of dollars viii
be spent upon The Century Die
tionary before it is ready for publ
cation.
The work oftype-setting and print
ing will be done By the DeVinnt
Press, in the new building int
which they have recently moved.
Bucklen'S Arnica SaIye.
The best Salve in the world for Cuts
/ Bruises, Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rheum, Feve
, Sores, letter ,Chapped Hands, Chilblains
L ill L.