The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-25
THE CENTURY DICTIONARY.

By special arrangement with its publish
ers, the Imperial dictionary of Great
Britain (perhaps the best of dictionaries up
to this time), has been used as founda-
ton for the Century dictionary, but the
work constructed upon it is independent
and original in every particular. The list
of words defined has been increased SO per
cent.
It is estimated, from the work done upon
the letters A-G, which are now in type, that
this dictionary will be comprised in about
$500 quarto pages, and will contain about
100000 separate words, at least 10000 tech
nical, idiomatic. and coloquial phrases,
over 100000 separate definitions, about
200 900 illustrative quotations taken from
over 1000 authors, a large number of
authorizations and of foreign phrases Zen
tered in the one alphabetical order of the
dictionary, and between 5000 and 5000
pictorial illustrations.
The editor-in-c chief, Professor William
Dwight Whitney, is considered one of the
highest authorities in the world in the sci
ence of language. He has been a professor
of philology for many years at Yale Univer-
sity, and he is the author of numerous
standard works on language, grammar,
etc. He has devoted much time to his
work on the dictionary. and has been as
sisted by competent specialists.
The Century dictionary is both die
tionary and a condensed disable encyclo
pedia. 1t is a dictionary, in that it gives
the spelling, the pronunciation, and the
history of each word, tracing it back to its
origin and defining it. 1t contains upward
of 100000 Words which is many more than
are in any other dictionary yet published.
Tho additions are scientific terms, words
which have recently come into the language,
and important words of earlier date which
have been overlooked by the makers
other dictionaries. Uselessi and
obvious derivatives are excludey.
It is encyclopedia in that it does not stop
at mere definitions of words, but goes into
particulars about things. A great deal of
detailed and interesting information is
given i'll it in handy form, differing from
the long articles of regular encyclopedias
in which the point one is searching for
Casually detaill is not easily found. This
information is generally given under the
special phrases after the definition. For
instance, under bark, following the defni-
ton, is list of phrases, such as Angostura
bark, Cascarilla bark, Georgia bark, etc.,
each accompanied with condensed defini-
ton, or reference to fuller definition
elsewhere. Such terms as Bright's disease,
Greek church, Catholic emancipation act
etc., which do not ordinarily find place in
dictionaries, are fully defined in this work.
Tho illustrations are accurate in drawing
and have been exquisitely engraved by the
men who have made "The Century Maya
zine" famous. No attempt will be made to
gather them together at the back of the
book as has sometimes been done in die
tionaries, since this would unnecessarily
increase the bulk by over 500 pages.
All peculiar colloquial words, especially
recent ones, are included in the Dictionary
Except vulgar slang). Under barrel. one
definition is, ''The money Especially when
the sum is large) supplied by candidate
in political campaign. for campaign ex-
renses, but especially for corrupt purposes"
etc. Such words as boycott, Doodle, etc.,
will be found here, fully defined.
I 1t is designed to be vernacular word
book for the handy service, on the instant,
of any man, however instructed, or how
ever simple. The casual reader turns
to his dictionary to find the meaning
and literary character of words ade-
quately explained. 1t is no part of his con-
Germ that this one might have been rejected
because it is ephemeral or that because it is
coiloquial. Moreover, who shall say what
may be the ultimate status of a word which
is to-day called slang" It may be in the
pulpit or on the bench before our boys have
grown their boards. There is no vulRarity
that time and use may not refine, or vice
versa. The remarkable transformations of
meanings are no less interesting. A knave
was once boy-child; to Chaucer and Piers
Plowman girl was of either sex; Ben JON
son speaks of keeping bachelor without n
husband; and in the ballads and romances
a child is young man, a squire, or page.
In purely technical terms the work is pe-
criiariy rich and the philology seems TO be
} abreast OF the latest standards. The agency
for The Pacific states is held by the ]
Dewing company. of San Francisco. and
their representative, Mr.. Eugene Saunders.
, is al present in the city for the purpose of
taking orders for this valuable work.
1t Nstl4eI tasr1ai lanz2al.1In