The morning call., 1890-06-13
AN ENGLISH DICTIONARY.

The accident which enables the proprie-
tors of THE CALL to offer to new subscrib-
ers A copy of Web5ter's Dictionary as a
bonus, substantially without cost will not
be without results in an educational as
spect. Language consists OF words. The
master of q language is he who knows
and understands the largest number Of
words which ii contains. Any publication
which extends peoples acquaintance with
words enlarges their grasp of their lam
guage and increases their stock OF knowl-
edge. When Webster's Unabridged Die
tionary sold for SIS to S25 it was beyond
the scope of ordinary persons and people
were obliged to content themselves with
cheap dictionaries which seldom contained
the word they were in search Of The OK
piration of Webster's copyright now places
the larger and more valuable work within
their reach, and they are TO be congratulated
accordingly.
The average American, who has had
grammar school education, uses in ordinary
conversation about $500 words, independent
of technical terms. The man OF education,
who has bestowed time on reading, uses
about 5000. The writer according to his
experience and training, may use from
5000 to 1900. But even the largest OF
these numbers bears small proportion to
the 10000 words which are contained in
Webster's Unabridged. Ii is safe to say
that no one possesses or uses such yo-
cabulary as that; if he did he would not
only be master of the tongue. but would
possess at least an elementary acquaintance
with every science and every branch Of hui
man knowledge.
OF the English language but few diction-
aries were compiled until comparatively
modern times. Neither Shakespeare nor
Milton nor Bacon nor Raleigh had any such
useful tool on their desk. When COrneille
hogan to write in France the necessity for
an authoritative dictionary, which decided
what words were French and what were
mere patois, was felt, and the Academy be-
gan in 1859 the publication of a dictionary
which became the final authority on the
language. in its present shape, with the
additions which time has rendered neces-
sary. it is so still. Its definitions and its
etymology have the force of law. Eighty
years afterward the Academy of Spain is
sued a dictionary of Spanish, which, like
the French work, has never been super
seeded. But it was not until 1855 that john
son began his great dictionary of English,
which was the standard authority for three
quarters of century, and a hundred more
years elapsed before the Germans had
dictionary worthy of the name in the shape
of Grimm's work. Johnson's two ponder
Gus tones cost him seven years work and
he got for Them $500. They evince indus
try, discrimination and a thorough ac
quaintance with the principles of language.
They have served all subsequent lexicog-
rapheTs as model.
In 1928 Noah Webster, who had achieved
reputation as author, pubiciSt and journal
ist, published his dictionary. 1t was at
once accepted ON both sides of the Atlantic
as the best guide to the English language.
1t was far more complete than the best edi-
ton of johnson; it was impartial; its
authors range of knowledge was wider
than the EngliShman's. 1t was published
in New York City. Some eighteen years
afterward the copyright was sold by the
a pletons to the young firm Of Merriam IL
Co. of Springfield, Mass, and they have
held it ever since. Out of the many edi-
tCnS they have published they have real
lied a vast fortune, and the dictionary has
done not little to build up the city whose
name it bore on its title page. Each edition
has, of course, been an Improvement on its
predecessor; but he who has at his elbow
the edition of 1917 and refers to it con-
stantly can safely boast that he possesses
the means of acquainting himself with the
English language.
With scholars the new Century Diction-
airy, which is now appearing in numbers, is
probably destined to take nigh rank. 1t is
by far the most pretentious English diction-
airy ever attempted; very large proportion
of the words it contains are unknown even
to well-educated people. 1t viii. of course,
sell at very high price indeed.