WEBSTER'S DICTIONARIES.

PENNSYLVANIA TESTIMONY, Continued.

From the Principal of Milford "Eclectic Hall," and Sup't of Pike County.

The only recommendation and the highest that I can give a *book* is to say that I use it myself, or that I admit it as a "Text Book" into my school. No school book gains admission into my school without a *rigid and thorough* examination. * * * * * "Webster's Dictionary" stands in *almost universal estimation, unrivaled*. * * Its own merits will introduce it, I hope, into every school in our State.

Respectfully yours,

IRA B. NEWMAN.

LANCASTER, PA., January 8, 1856.

I have not seen any encomium of Dr. Webster's Quarto Dictionary Unabridged which at all exaggerates its extraordinary merits. And as uniformity is so exceedingly desirable in the orthography and pronunciation of our language, the duty of making such a work the *universal standard*, in order to secure that uniformity, rises to the dignity of patriotism; nor, indeed, from its general acceptance, wherever the English language is written, is the effort any longer to be regarded as Quixotic; so that this desideratum is attainable, in connection with Webster's Dictionary, it may now be commended to every friend of intellectual culture and especially of English and American literature, in the United States.

A. L. HAYES, Chairman of Com. on Books Bd. of Directors.

DICKINSON COLLEGE, CARLISLE, December 21, 1855.

We regard Webster's *Dictionary* of the English language as undoubtedly the best we have.

J. W. MARSHALL, Prof. of Languages.

L. D. HILLMAN, *Prin. of Grammar School.*

H. M. JOHNSON, *Prof. of Philosophy and Eng. Literature.*

W. C. WILSON, *Prof. of Natural Science.*

B. ARBOGAST, *Teacher in the Gram. School.*

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF CARLISLE, PA, December 20, 1855.

Walker's Dictionaries had been introduced into the Public Schools of the Carlisle District, but after much consideration on the part of the Board of Directors, WEBSTER'S DICTIONARIES were substituted in their place, being esteemed the best and most suitable work for the purpose, and adopted as the *Standard* of Orthography in our schools, being American in character, compiled with a thorough knowledge of the Anglo-Saxon language, and well adapted to the wants of this country.

JAMES HAMILTON, *Director and Secretary of the Board.*

Resolutions adopted by the "Teachers' Institute" of Cumberland County.

MECHANICSBURG, December 25, 1855.

From the high opinion we entertain of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, we are induced to recommend its introduction into our Public Schools as our *Standard Authority*. The use of the Dictionary in the school room among the scholars is very important; we would therefore recommend for the student Webster's Common School, High School, and Academic Dictionaries.

(Ex. Gov.) JOSEPH RITNER, President.

READING, September 13, 1855.

It is generally conceded that as a definer Webster stands preeminently superior to every other English lexicographer. In the compilation of school books his orthography and orthoepy have in most cases been adopted as the basis; and as we require but one standard for all purposes for which a dictionary is generally used, we have no hesitancy in giving him

the preference.

J. T. VALENTINE, *Principal of High School.*

T. SEVERN, *Principal of N. W. Ward Male Grammar School.*

RACHEL D. GRISCOM, N. W. Ward Female Grammar School.

JOHN RYAN, *Principal of S. W. Ward Grammar School.*

H. V. HAMLIN, *Principal of N. E. Ward Male Grammar School.*

JOHN KALSTON, " S. E. " " " "

W. ROOT, *Principal of Spruce Ward Male Grammar School.*

LANCASTER, December 24, 1855.

I consider Webster's Unabridged Dictionary as the most excellent work of the kind. The Academic is peculiarly adapted to the wants of our Common Schools. Its arrangement, clearness, and copiousness render it the proper aid to the student.

W. V. DAVIS, *Principal of the Male High School.*

["ENT", "ENT", "ENU", "ty, n. The state of being entire or whole; or\nloss; integrity; as *entirety* of interest.\nBlackstone.\nBacon.\nC. That which is entire or whole; the whole.", "ti-ti-ate, v. [from *entitle*.] Considered as\nentity or independent existence. [Rare.]\n**ti-ti-ate-tively, adv.** In an entitative man-\nner. [Rare.]", "ti'title, v. t. [imp. and pp. ENTITLED; pp.\nENT'ELING.] [Fr. *intituler*; Sp. *intitular*; It. *initio*-\ntem; from L. *titulus*, a title.]", "1. To give a title to; to affix as a name or appel-\nliation; hence also to dignify by an honorary desig-\nnation; to designate; to call; as, to *entitle* a\nbook, \"Commentaries on the Laws of England;\"\n\"to entitle a man \"Honorable.\"", "2. To give a claim to; to qualify for; with a *di-\nrect* object of the person, and a remote object of the\nhing; hence, to furnish grounds for seeking; as,\nan officer's talents *entitle* him to command. *Buke*.", "3. To attribute; to ascribe; as, \"The ancient\nover-\nriver,\" *entitles* this work . . . peculiar to\nthe *in itself*; *Milton*.", "4. To *invent*; *inventor*; *inventorship*; *invent*\nSYN. To name; designate; style; characterize.\ntit-tile, v. t. To entitle. [Obs. B. Jonson.\nti-tity, n. [Low L. *entitas*; Fr. *entité*; Sp. en-\ndad; It. *entita*; from *ens, esse*, to be.]\n*Iti-tu-d*, that which makes a being what it is; a real\nbeing, whether in thought or in fact; being; es-\nence; existence; as, \"Fortune is no real entity,\nbut a mere relative signification.\" *Bentley*.", "5. To *invent*; *inventorship*; *inventor*\n*in itself*; *Milton*.\n*to toil*, v. t. [See *Toil*.] To take with tolls; to\n*invent*; to entangle; as, \"*entoiled* in woofed phan-\nties.\" *Keats*.", "ti-to-ma-tog-r-a-phy, n. [Gr. *ευτορα*, an in-\nter- and γαγαe, a writing.] See *ENTOMORPHO*.", "ti-tom, (en-toom') v. t. [imp. and pp. EN-\nTO-MED; Fr. *ENTOMBING*.] [from *tom*; to de-\nscit in a tomb, as a dead body; to bury; to inter.\nHooker.", "ti-tomb ing, ppr. Depositing in a tomb; bury-\ning; interring.", "ti-tombment, (en-toom'ment') n. The act of\ndying; burial; to enter.", "ti-moc, a. (from *entomorph*.)", "ti-moc, a. [Gr. *ευτορα* and *ειδορ*.]", "ti-mo-log'ic-al, a. Pertaining to the sci-\nence of insects.", "ti-mo-log'ist, n. One versed in the science\nof insects.", "[Gr. *ευτορα*, insect, from\n*out*, and *oyios*, discourse.\nthe which treats of insects; the\n*ity* and *description* of insects\nn. In *Zool*, a crustacean\n*CRUSTACEAN*; the princi-\nple, *lentomostacra* are—\n*in-sive* multiplication of legs,\n*ευτορα*, &c.", "the number of legs not exceeding\none hundred and here the greater part of\nthis *mimic* The *Cyclops* form con-\nJyphus what shrimp-like in tribe\n*v. biv*: which the body is enclosed\n*v. biv*: Daphnia tribe is similarly\nnot closed, and the head not\nincluded, the *Caulogulus* tribe, fish-hip, have a suc-\n*v. biv*: Daphnia tribe is

"GET THE BEST."

A NATIONAL STANDARD.

NARY,

And while you are about it,
abridged. If you are too poor,
journal.

the avails of which they may buy it.
pennies, for the like purpose.

to be expounders.

d that must be deemed good property,
lear, in the last sentence, look at Web-

t seems like being questioned as to my

should have been done among us. It
an American Parthenon. We should
literary institutions, and schools, should

ON.

rresponding officer, where such an
g them are those of Maine
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio
Carolina, Alabama, Minne

d in as many of her public

School Districts of the S
 distributed, under that Act

Some of the larger cities a

Education. Annexed is
ittee of the town, and for

School districts fail of doi

SPRINGFIELD, MASS., APRIL 12, 1861.

To Publishers of Periodicals.

We are constantly receiving letters from Publishers of Periodicals,
proposing to advertise for us, and receive in payment a copy of WEBSTER'S
QUARTO DICTIONARY.

At this date we have more than six hundred such applications, in a spe-
cial file, received within comparatively a brief period.

We wish to state, that in the present depressed state of business, adver-
tising, on any terms whatever, does us very little good.

In this state of things,—after having advertised WEBSTER'S DICTION-
ARY very extensively for fifteen years, we must in many cases entirely
decline proposals we receive, and in other cases, ask a larger amount of
advertising, for a single book, than might reasonably be expected, under
other circumstances.

G. & C. MERRIAM.

to themselves if they like.

SPRINGFIELD, OCTOBER 1857.

SPRINGFIELD, MASS., 18

Since the issue of our new Pictorial Edition of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, we are in receipt of a great number of letters from editors, who desire copies of the work, payable in the use of their columns; these applications are so numerous, *that we are compelled to answer them, to a great extent, by circulars*.

We are happy to meet the wishes of those who thus apply, to as large an extent as can be done with advantage to them and to ourselves.

As, however, this new edition is very expensive to us, as well as very valuable to those who purchase, it will be deemed as only reasonable that we ask in payment the insertion of an amount of matter, ORIGINAL OR SELECTED, *proportionate to the equivalent we are asked to give in payment for it.*

This new edition has been noticed with such high commendations, by the leading journals, that the re-production of articles, or portions of them, that have already appeared, is mainly important to us, in journals having a more limited circulation.

It will be a matter of convenience to us, in consulting our files, if

you will mark your reply " No.

G. & C. MERRIAM.

"GET THE BEST."

A NATIONAL STANDARD.

Webster's
QUARTO DICTIONARY,
THE ENTIRE WORK UNABRIDGED.

young persons should have a standard DICTIONARY at their elbows. And while you are about it, BEST; that Dictionary is **NOAH WEBSTER'S**. The great work unabridged. If you are too poor, amount from off your back, to put it into your head.'—Phrenological Journal.

farmer should give his sons two or three square rods of grond, well prepared, with the avails of which they may buy it. imic should put a receiving box in some conspicuous place in the house, to catch the stray pennies, for the like purpose.

upon your table by the side of the Bible—it is a better expounder than many which claim to be expounders.

great labor-saver—it has saved us time enough in one year's use to pay for itself: and that must be deemed good property, clear itself once a year. If you have any doubt about the precise meaning of the word clear, in the last sentence, look at Web- pen definitions of the v.t.'—Massachusetts Life Boat.

FROM N. P. WILLIS.

Webster's Dictionary" has been my sole authority so long, that 'to be asked my opinion of it seems like being questioned as to my of my own country to any other.

one of the Washington-sized glories of our country that such a life-work as that Dictionary should have been done among us. It ed the broken columns of other philologistic temples of our language, and built them into an American Parthenon. We should be proud of it—as, indeed, there is no denying that we are, I believe—and our colleges, literary institutions, and schools, should eful unanimity, avow their honor for it, adopt and cherish it.

OFFICIAL STATE RECOGNITION.

early every State Superintendent of Public Instruction in the Union, or corresponding officer, where such an its, has recommended Webster's Dictionary in the strongest terms. Among them are those of Maine, Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Louisiana, California, North Carolina, Alabama, Minnesota, TWENTY THREE in all.

STATE PURCHASES.

ate of **NEW YORK**, has placed **10,000** copies of Webster's Unabridged in as many of her public **WISCONSIN**, **3300**—nearly every school.

**NEW JERSEY** has provided for all her schools.

**MICHIGAN**, also, has made the same provision for all hers.

**MASSACHUSETTS** has supplied her schools—nearly all.

In the year 1850 provision was made by her legislature for supplying the School Districts of the State's or Worcester's Dictionary, Up to January 1st, 1857 there had been distributed, under that Act, **113** copies of **Webster**, and **304** copies of **Worcester**.

Since that time **304** additional copies of **Webster** have been taken. Some of the larger cities are taken as follows, in addition to their previous supplies:

BOSTON, - - - 197 Copies,
NEW BEDFORD, - - 35 "
ROXBURY, - - 26 "
CHELSEA, - - 8 "
NEWBURYPORT, - - 7 "
FITCHBURG, - - 6 "

Smaller towns have taken less numbers.

Districts not yet supplied will be furnished by the Secretary of the Board of Education. Annexed is form of application, which should be signed by a majority of the School Committee of the town, and for ON. GEORGE S. BOUTWELL, Secretary of Board of Education, Boston."

As the expense of these books is paid from the Education Fund of the State, School districts fail of doing themselves if they neglect to obtain this bounty from the Commonwealth.

SPRINGFIELD, OCTOBER 1857.

The School Committee of
Board of Education for
one copy for each of the following schools, viz :

copies of

hereby make application to the
Dictionary,

in accordance with Resolve of May 2, 1850, authorizing the Secretary of said Board "to furnish each district and other public school in the Commonwealth, except primary schools, a copy of Noah Webster's Unabridged Quarto Dictionary, or Joseph E. Worcester's Octavo Dictionary, at the option of the school committee of each town;" and we, being a majority of the school committee, hereby certify, that each school for which a Dictionary is requested, is furnished "with a suitable book-case or desk for the safe keeping of the Dictionary," agreeably to the requisition contained in a proviso of the said Resolves.

School Committee.

CERTIFICATE OF SCHOOL DIRECTOR TO SUPERVISOR.

Mich.

1857.

To

Supervisor of the township of
Mich.

I HEREBY certify that School District No. in the township of at its annual meeting, held September 28, 1857, voted to avail itself of the provisions of the Act of the Legislature, approved February 17, 1857, providing for the purchase of WEBSTER'S UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY of the English Language for the Primary Schools of the State: and I hereby notify you of such action of said District.

Director of School District No.

Township of

*Extract from the Circular of HON. IRA MAYHEW, addressed to the Directors of the School Districts of Michigan, May 28, 1857, relative to the Act of the Legislature for the purchase of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary for the Primary Schools of the State.*

"So numerous and great are the advantages that would result from furnishing the School Districts of the State with a copy of this Standard authority in Orthography, Definitions, and Pronunciation, to lie on the Teacher's Desk, during term-time, to be consulted by teacher and scholars, and at other times to be lodged with the Director as a work of reference for the citizens of the District, not possessing it, that I trust the School Districts of the State will very generally avail themselves of its beneficent provisions, by which they would, in the aggregate, save to themselves eight thousand dollars."

IRA MAYHEW,
Superintendent of Public Instruction.

*From the Annual Report of the HON. F. W. SHEARMAN, late Superintendent of Public Instruction; presented to the Legislature of Michigan, January 1, 1851.*

"Dr. Webster's Dictionary is the Standard of our language, and has become a national treasure, as well as the monument of his industry and genius.

"This work has been adopted as the standard Dictionary in the schools and colleges of most of the States of the Union, and State officers in charge of the system and subject of Education, in various States, have recommended appropriations for its purchase by the Legislature. Of its intrinsic worth, no one can doubt, and its inestimable value as a book of reference, in each township library, cannot be too fully appreciated. The Legislature of Massachusetts have made provision for furnishing a copy, at the expense of the State, to every school district who desire to possess it. In short, the great ability of the work, its wide spread reputation, the copiousness of its information, its exactness and fullness in definition, and its usefulness in all respects, indicate it as the great "uninspired" book of the English language, and, as such, demanding at the hands of the constituted authorities a permanent place in the archives of each and all of our townships."

"GET THE BEST."

A NATIONAL STANDARD.

'All young persons should have a standard DICTIONARY at their elbows. And while you are about it, GET THE BEST; that Dictionary is **NOAH WEBSTER'S**. The great work Unabridged. If you are too poor, save the amount from off your back, to put it into your head.'—Phrenological Journal.

"Every farmer should give his sons two or three square rods of ground, well prepared, with the avails of which they may buy it. Every mechanic should put a receiving box in some conspicuous place in the house, to catch the stray pennies, for the like purpose.

Lay it upon your table by the side of the Bible—it is a better expounder than many which claim to be expounders.

It is a great labor-saver—it has saved us time enough in one year's use to pay for itself: and that must be deemed good property, which will clear itself once a year. If you have any doubt about the precise meaning of the word clear, in the last sentence, look at Webster's thirteen definitions of the v. t.'—Massachusetts Life Boat.

FROM N. P. WILLIS.

"Webster's Dictionary" has been my sole authority so long, that to be asked my opinion of it seems like being questioned as to my preference of my own country to any other.

It is one of the Washington-sized glories of our country that such a life-work as that Dictionary should have been done among us. It has gathered the broken columns of other philologistic temples of our language, and built them into an American Parthenon. We should nationally be proud of it—as, indeed, there is no denying that we are, I believe—and our colleges, literary institutions, and schools, should with grateful unanimity, avow their honor for it, adopt and cherish it.

OFFICIAL STATE RECOGNITION.

Nearly every State Superintendent of Public Instruction in the Union, or corresponding officer, where such an one exists, has recommended Webster's Dictionary in the strongest terms. Among them are those of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Louisiana, California, North Carolina, Alabama, Minnesota and all Canada, TWENTY THREE in all.

STATE PURCHASES.

The State of **NEW YORK**, has placed 10,000 copies of Webster's Unabridged in as many of her public Schools—nearly every school.

**NEW JERSEY, 1500**—nearly every school.

In the year 1850 provision was made by the legislature of Massachusetts for supplying the School Districts of the State with Webster's or Worcester's Dictionary. Up to January 1st, 1857 there had been distributed, under Act, 3214 copies of **Webster**, and 113 copies of **Worcester**.

Since that time **327** additional copies of **Webster** have been taken. Some of the larger cities and towns have taken as follows, in addition to their previous supplies:

BOSTON, 197 Copies,
NEW BEDFORD, 35 "
ROXBURY, 26 "
CHELSEA, 8 "
CAMBRIDGE, 15 "
NEWBURYPORT, 7 "
FITCHBURG, 6 "

Districts not yet supplied will be furnished by the Secretary of the Board of Education. Annexed is a copy of the form of application, which should be signed by a majority of the School Committee of the town, and forwarded to the Hon. GEORGE S. BOUTWELL, Secretary of Board of Education, State House, Boston."

As the expense of these books is paid from the Education Fund of the State, School districts fail of doing just what they intend to do, to themselves if they neglect to obtain this bounty from the Commonwealth.

SPRINGFIELD, DECEMBER, 1857.

["## To Town School Visitors and other friends of Education in Connecticut:", "GENTLEMEN: The Legislature of your State has made provision to meet a want of the Schools of Connecticut, similar to that which was felt and met in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, &c., in a full and complete Standard Dictionary of the language like WEBSTER'S UNABRIDGED, to be placed on the desk of every teacher for the common benefit of the school.", "Can a like expenditure be as judiciously made in any other direction? Can you as effectually subserve the interests of the schools under your supervision, as by securing in some way a copy of this work for the use of each of those schools?", "December, 1857.", "THE School Law, passed by the Legislature of Connecticut, at its May Session, 1856, contains the following provision for the establishment of Libraries in School districts:", "SECTION 1. The Treasurer of the State, upon the order of the Superintendent of Schools, is hereby authorized and directed to pay over the sum of ten dollars, out of any moneys that may be in the public treasury, to every school district which shall raise by tax or subscription, a like sum for the same purpose, to establish within such district a school library; and the further sum of five dollars, annually, upon a like order, to the said districts, upon condition that they shall have raised a like sum for such year, for the purposes aforesaid.", "SEC. 2. The selection of books for such libraries shall be approved by the board of visitors of each town.", "In the State Superintendent's Report, he remarks: \"These Libraries should comprise history and biography, voyages and travels, works on natural history and the physical sciences, treatises on agriculture, manufactures and arts. To these should be added some of the best books on education for the use of parents and school officers, some on the history and practice of teaching for the use of teachers, and a few of the most important books of reference, including that storehouse of knowledge, NOAH WEBSTER'S UNABRIDGED QUARTO DICTIONARY, which, though produced on Connecticut soil, is beyond the reach of her children, unless they remove to some one of those States which have sent it to all their schools.\"", "## FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM SCHOOL COMMITTEE.", "(NAME OF TOWN.) (DATE.)", "To the Superintendent of Common Schools:", "This is to certify, That\nraised for the purchase of books for a School Library,", "District", "By subscription, $", "By taxation, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SCHOOL APPARATUS.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Jan. 14, 1850.

ORDERED, That the Committee on Education be requested to
take into consideration, and report upon, the expediency of
making an appropriation of from five to ten dollars of the in-
come of the Massachusetts School Fund, to each School Dis-
trict in the State, for the purchase of outline maps, or other
apparatus, for the use of the schools in said districts.

Sent up for concurrence.

C. W. STOREY, Clerk.

IN SENATE, Jan. 15, 1850.

Concurred.

CHAS. CALHOUN, Clerk.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

IN SENATE, Jan. 31, 1850.

ORDERED, That the Committee on Education inquire into the
expediency of placing an English Dictionary in each of the
Common Schools of this State.

Sent down for concurrence.

CHAS. CALHOUN, Clerk.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Jan. 31, 1850.

Concurred.

C. W. STOREY, Clerk.

SCHOOL APPARATUS.

IN SENATE, March 6, 1850.

The Committee on Education, to whom was referred an order of the House of Representatives, of the 14th of January, "to report upon the expediency of making an appropriation of five or ten dollars of the income of the Massachusetts School Fund, to each School District in the State, for the purchase of outline maps, or other apparatus, for the use of said districts," and also an order of the Senate, of the 31st of January, "to inquire into the expediency of placing an English Dictionary in each of the Common Schools, of the State," have duly considered these several subjects, and submit the following

REPORT:

Several series of outline maps were brought before the committee, for their examination, and received a careful and deliberate consideration.

The first presented, was that of Mr. Wm. B. Fowle. These were eight in number, of convenient size, (about thirty inches square,) drawn with great accuracy, and a bold outline, highly and carefully colored. The regular price of this set was stated to be four dollars.

In addition to these, Mr. Fowle presented his outline map of Massachusetts, said to be the largest ever made of the State. It is a very beautiful map, and well adapted to the purpose for which it was made; and in those schools where a place upon the walls, large enough to exhibit the map, can be found, would doubtless be a most valuable acquisition for teaching the geography of Massachusetts. The price of this map is five dollars.

4

SCHOOL APPARATUS.

It was understood by the committee, that these maps had
already been introduced into many of the schools of the State.

Another series, was that of Mr. Pelton, of Philadelphia, con-
sisting of seven very large outline maps, each covering from
forty to fifty square feet.

These, too, were beautifully executed, and especially well
adapted to the use of high schools and academies, but rather
too large to be used in some of our common schoolhouses. A
key, explanatory of these maps, and containing a large amount
of valuable matter on the general subject, accompanied this
series.

The third series, to which the attention of the committee was
drawn, was that of Mr. Sylvester Bliss. These are eight in
number, most of them twenty-six inches by thirty-four, but
one,—that of the United States,—thirty-four by fifty-two inches.
These maps were finely engraved, and elegantly finished, and
with cloth backs, are sold at five dollars per set. A key, also,
accompanies this series. This key is in folio form, and is of
itself a complete geography, resembling Morse's School Geogra-
phy; containing a large number of outline maps, and numerous
engraved illustrations. It appears, to your committee, to be
what it professes, a complete analysis of the science, and admi-
rably adapted to the use of schools.

The chief points of excellence, in this series, are, the judicious
selection and arrangement of topics, presenting both the analysis
and synthesis of the science, in a most concise and intelligible
manner. This series, as a whole, the committee regard as very
complete and satisfactory, and quite suitable for the use of the
common schools of the State, into many of which it is already
introduced.

A school globe was exhibited to the committee, invented by
Silas Cornell, and so peculiarly and ingeniously arranged, as to
be well adapted to the use of common schools. The price of
this globe was three dollars.

To all school districts, to which the introduction of an article
of the kind would be beneficial, as it undoubtedly would be to
a large number in the Commonwealth, the committee commend
this globe, as worthy of attention.

In regard to the order respecting outline maps and apparatus,
your committee do not report any action as necessary, on the
part of the Commonwealth.

SCHOOL APPARATUS.

5

Outline maps are already, to a considerable extent, known and appreciated, and, in some measure, introduced into the public schools, and your committee trust will soon be universally so, as they are valuable aids in teaching geography, and ought to be regarded as indispensable in every school in the State; but aware that, by a law of the last session of the Legislature, each district has the power to tax itself " for all necessary school apparatus," including, of course, outline maps, your committee believe, that the school districts have only to understand the powers conferred upon them by that law, to insure such action on their part, as will furnish themselves, at an almost inappreciable expense, with these necessary helps in the education of their children.

The order respecting dictionaries, received due consideration. Only two were brought before the committee, viz.: Webster's, and Worcester's.

A patient hearing was given to the friends of both these justly celebrated works, and their respective merits and defects very fully and freely discussed.

Webster's Dictionary is widely and favorably known to the public, not only in this country, but in all others where the English language is used. As a defining dictionary, its superiority over all others is universally admitted. It is, indeed, a most learned and valuable work, reflecting high honor upon the literary character of our country, and cost the author the labor and research, more or less continuous, of some sixty years of his life. It has received the highest commendations, from persons of the greatest consideration, in this country and in England. In the latter, it has been republished, and it is, at the present time, the avowed basis of an "Imperial Dictionary," in the course of publication in Great Britain. It may be justly regarded, not only as a most reliable and exact defining dictionary, but a complete encyclopædia of the technical terms of science and the arts.

The claims in behalf of Mr. Worcester's Dictionary, are, that its orthography is more correct, because more in accordance with the received and popular mode of spelling words; and that its orthoëpy is a better standard, because more conformable to the popular pronunciation; and more perfect, because it indicates more fully the nice intermediate shading of the vowel sounds, and also of the unaccented syllables.

6

SCHOOL APPARATUS.

It is also claimed, that this dictionary contains a larger num-
ber of words than any other in the language, and that it has
received the approbation of many persons of distinguished lit-
erary reputation; and been introduced into many schools and
seminaries of learning.

Your committee do not feel called upon to decide the com-
parative merits of these two rival dictionaries. Both are quite
well known to the public. Each has its admirers, and the peo-
ple may very safely be left to decide, which they will choose as
the companion of their children; but in relation to the order
referred to them, your committee beg leave to say, that, after
duly considering the subject, they have come to the conclusion,
that to adopt the measure contemplated in the order, will meet
an important want in our schools; that it will furnish a valua-
ble aid and stimulant to both teachers and pupils, and exert a
powerful though silent influence upon both. The study of our
own language is justly esteemed of the first importance, in all
schools of learning, and particularly in those which are designed
for all our citizens.

To teach our mother tongue with correctness and ease, and
above all, with a full understanding of its import, is one of the
primaries of every public school. No habit is so valuable to
this end,—so conducive to the formation of clear thoughts, and
to the forcible expression of those thoughts,—as that of fre-
quently consulting a dictionary.

It is said, that when the great orator and statesman of New
England was once asked, what book he studied most, in his
preparation for public speaking, he replied, "My English dic-
tionary."

A good defining dictionary is indeed a mine of intellectual
wealth; but it cannot be expected that the teachers will buy so
expensive a work for their pupils, nor that the latter will pur-
chase it for themselves; and, unless supplied by the liberality
of the State, we have no reason to doubt, that one or two gen-
erations of children will pass from the common schools into the
active relations of life, without ever enjoying the benefit of so-
valuable a work.

In respect to the necessity and utility of this measure, we
have the testimony of the most experienced teachers of the
Commonwealth, some of whom are able to speak of the value

SCHOOL APPARATUS.

7

of such a work, from their personal observation of the extensive
and profitable use made of it by their pupils.

The Principal of the Phillips Academy, S. N. Taylor, under
date of Jan. 31, 1850, writes as follows: "I am pleased to learn,
that it is in contemplation to put a copy of it (referring to Web-
ster's Dictionary) into every school district in the State. In my
opinion this would be of great service to our schools; and I
think the money necessary to the purpose, could in no way be
more appropriately expended. All our teachers should have
access to a work of this kind. They need to consult it, to ena-
ble them to give their pupils exact ideas of the many difficult
words which are constantly occurring,—particularly, scientific
or technical terms,—and also, for the purpose of giving the ap-
propriate pronunciation to geographical and other names.

"Pupils should be accustomed, from the very first, to acquire
well defined and distinct ideas of the meaning of words. This
gives an exactness to their knowledge, which will be of invaluable
service to them through life."

The Principal of the High School in Springfield, A. Parish,
in a letter to one of your committee, dated Jan. 23, 1850, says:
"During the past year, a copy of this (Webster's) dictionary
has been lying on my desk in the schoolroom, to which all the
members have had free access. That they have appreciated the
privilege, is sufficiently proved, by the *constant use* they have
made of the work, as a book of reference, in every branch of
study and exercise in the school. Frequently, scarce a moment
intervenes, when a scholar is not examining its pages. * * I
find it invaluable in the explanation of *technical terms and
phrases*, in chemistry, natural philosophy, astronomy, and not
unfrequently in mathematics. The *derivation and analysis of
words*, too, which we make a prominent object of study, pupils
find more readily explained, than elsewhere. With regard to
definitions, so clear, so copious, and so numerous, are the exam-
ples illustrating their various applications, that scarcely any
thing further is needed in that respect.

"If a thorough and frequent use of a text book, and a mani-
festly deep interest in it,—especially when that use springs from
a *voluntary choice*,—is *evidence of its utility*, I think the testi-
mony of my one hundred and twenty-five pupils, by their ac-
tion, will go far towards making it a clear case.

8

SCHOOL APPARATUS.

"I do not suppose that one out of ten of my pupils, would, if deprived of this privilege, ever find access to that, or any other large work of the kind; and in the lower grade of schools, not one in fifty pupils,—that is, to make a practical use of it."

Many other teachers, both of the high and common schools, concur in a like testimony to the value of a large defining dictionary, for the use of their scholars, and express great anxiety that a copy of some such work should be placed in each school district in the State.

To Massachusetts belongs the high honor of taking the lead in all measures to elevate the character of common schools, and bring their advantages within the reach of all classes of her citizens.

But her system of education must be progressive, to meet the increasing and varying wants of her people. The fact, that a great change has come over this Commonwealth, within the last generation, shows, of itself, that a corresponding change should take place in our educational system.

Once, we were almost exclusively an agricultural people. Now, we have a large manufacturing population. Once, but few persons of high education were absolutely required, by the business of the country. Now, we have numerous manufacturing establishments, that require agents, clerks, overseers, and other officers; we have railroads, that cover our land as with an iron net-work, and require, in their construction and operation, an amount of educated talent, altogether greater than was deemed necessary in a rural population.

Men must be better educated, to meet these increased demands. Not the few, but the many, should be educated to such an extent, as to participate in all these lucrative and honorable employments. We ought not to be contented with our present standard of education,—we should require better teachers, better schools, better books.

In view of all these facts and considerations, your committee do not hesitate to recommend the introduction of an English dictionary,—one of the two referred to in this report, at the option of the school committees—into every school in the Commonwealth.

They believe that such a measure will be gratifying to all enlightened friends of education, and contribute much to ad-

SCHOOL APPARATUS.

9

vance the interests of our children and youth. It is one of
those measures, in which Massachusetts may well take the ini-
tiative, and other States will not be slow to follow her example.

The expense of this measure will not be great, and it is pro-
posed that it shall be defrayed from the school fund, which is
rapidly approaching its maximum, and a small portion of which,
it is believed, cannot be better appropriated, than in bestowing
the gift of an English dictionary upon each school in the
State.

A few of the larger districts, it is well known, have already
procured one of these dictionaries, but such may avail them-
selves of the other, and thus secure to themselves all the advan-
tages that may be derived from both.

By a Resolve, passed March 3, 1843, "fifteen dollars, to be
taken from the school fund," was appropriated to every school
district in the Commonwealth, "to be expended in books, for a
school library." Experience, it is believed, has shown, that the
operation of this law has been less advantageous than was ex-
pected. These libraries were composed of reading books, not
reference books, and were unadapted to our common schools.
Not that the books were unsuitable for the use of the young,
but because a library requires an amount of care and vigilance,
in its preservation and use, which are not to be found or ex-
pected in our common school districts.

The prudential committee is generally changed every year,
and there is no permanent officer, of any sort, connected with
the individual schools; consequently, the books are often neg-
lected and wasted, or locked up in the house of some person
in the district.

The plan of furnishing these libraries, was never a true edu-
cational measure, but rather one of general enlightenment; and
had a sum, equal to fifteen dollars to each school district, been
offered to such towns as would raise an equal amount, to estab-
lish a town library, for the use of all the scholars and people of
the town, and placed in the care of a librarian, undoubtedly
much greater good would have been effected.

These considerations induce your committee to recommend,
that the law referred to be repealed. If this is done, the school
fund will be relieved of an obligation, more than equal to that
which will be incurred by the donation now proposed.

2

SCHOOL APPARATUS.

11

In the Year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty.

RESOLVES

In aid of the several School Districts of the Commonwealth.

*Resolved*, 1. That the Secretary of the Board of Education be, and hereby is, authorized to furnish each school district in the State, with a copy of Noah Webster's unabridged quarto dictionary, or Joseph E. Worcester's imperial octavo dictionary, at the option of the school committee of each town; provided, that the said Webster's dictionary may be obtained at a cost of not more than four dollars, and said Worcester's dictionary at a cost of not more than three and a half dollars, per copy.

*Resolved*, 2. That the school committee of each town in the Commonwealth, be and is hereby authorized, to obtain from the Secretary of the Board of Education, one copy of either of the above named dictionaries, at the option of said committee, and cause the same to be placed in each of the several district school-houses, in their respective towns; *provided, however*, that no district shall be entitled to this donation, which shall not have furnished itself with a suitable book-case, or desk, under lock and key, for the safe keeping of said dictionary; and the school committee, in making application therefor to the Board of Education, shall certify, that each district, for which a dictionary is requested, has complied with this requisition.

"GET THE BEST!"
WEBSTER'S QUARTO DICTIONARY,

Containing THREE TIMES the matter found in any other English
Dictionary compiled in this country, or

ANY ABRIDGEMENT OF THIS WORK.

Ask for Webster's Unabridged.

WHAT MORE ESSENTIAL TO EVERY FAMILY, COUNTING ROOM,
STUDENT, and indeed, every one who would know the right use of language—the
meaning, orthography and pronunciation of words, than a good English Diction-
ary!—of daily necessity and permanent value.

WEBSTER'S UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY has received a degree of commendation from the eminent scholars and literary men of the country that has never been bestowed upon any other work, and such as to give abundant sanction to its claim to be a "National Standard."

The subjoined notices of the work are from Archbishop Purcell and Bishop Regan of the Catholic Church.

FROM ARCHBISHOP PURCELL.

Cincinnati, Sept. 23d, 1856.

"The Definitions of this book are so accurate and fair, wherever Catholic words are to be defined, that I respectfully suggest it should be a favorite with Catholics. Another reason is, that it is the fullest, most complete and only American Lexicon."

(Signed,)

† B. B. PURCELL,
Archbishop, Cincinnati.

FROM BISHOP REGAN.

"I believe Webster's Dictionary to be the most complete book of the kind we have in the English language. Its definitions in every department of Literature will be found most accurate and comprehensive.

"In Catholic Colleges and Schools, and with all Catholics, this should be a favorite. Not only is it free from bigotry and misrepresentation in all that regards our religion, but its definitions of Catholic words are so just, fair and accurate, and its statements on Catholic subjects so true and learned, that all Catholics may consult it with security and much advantage."

Published by G. & C. MERRIAM, Springfield, Mass.

Sold by D. & J. SADLIER and E. DUNIGAN & BROTHER, New York,
and by Booksellers generally.

WEBSTER'S SCHOOL DICTIONARIES.

WEBSTER'S COUNTING-HOUSE DICTIONARY.

WEBSTER'S ACADEMIC DICTIONARY.

WEBSTER'S HIGH SCHOOL DICTIONARY.

WEBSTER'S COMMON SCHOOL DICTIONARY.

WEBSTER'S PRIMARY SCHOOL DICTIONARY.

Forming a complete series, and thereby adapted to Schools of every grade.

Published by MASON BROTHERS, New York.

WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY.

FROM N. P. WILLIS.

It is one of the Washington-sized glories of our country that such a life work as that Dictionary should have been done among us. It has gathered the broken columns of other philologistic temples of our language, and built them into an American Parthenon. We should nationally be proud of it — as, indeed, there is no denying that we are, I believe — and our colleges, literary institutions, and schools, should, with grateful unanimity, avow their honor for it, adopt and cherish it.

From Professor HAVEN, of the University of Michigan.

If called upon to sacrifice my library, volume by volume, the book which I should preserve longest, except the Bible, is the AMERICAN DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, by Dr. Webster.
E. O. HAVEN.

"All young persons should have a standard DICTIONARY at their elbows. And while you are about it, GET THE BEST; that Dictionary is NOAH WEBSTER'S—the great work, Unabridged. If you are too poor, save the amount from off your back, to put it into your head." —Phrenological Journal.

"Every farmer should give his sons two or three square rods of ground, well prepared, with the avails of which they may buy it. Every mechanic should put a receiving box in some conspicuous place in the house to catch the stray pennies for the like purpose. Lay it upon your table by the side of the Bible; it is a better expounder than many which claim to be expounders. It is a great labor saver; — it has saved us time enough in one year's use to pay for itself; and that must be deemed good property which will clear itself once a year. If you have any doubt about the precise meaning of the word clear in the last sentence, look at Webster's thirteen definitions of the v. t." —Massachusetts Life Boat.

OFFICIAL STATE RECOGNITION.

Nearly every State Superintendent of Public Instruction in the Union, or corresponding officer, where such a one exists, has recommended WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY in the strongest terms. Among them are those of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Louisiana, California, North Carolina, Alabama, Minnesota, and also Canada, — TWENTY-THREE in all

STATE PURCHASES.

THE STATE OF NEW YORK has placed 10,000 copies of Webster's Unabridged in as many of her public schools.

" " " WISCONSIN, 3,300 — nearly every school.

" " " NEW JERSEY, 1,500 — nearly every school.

" " " MICHIGAN, 2,000, and made provision for all her schools.

" " " MASSACHUSETTS has supplied her schools — nearly all.

In the year 1850, provision was made by the Legislature of Massachusetts for supplying the school districts of the State. Up to January 1, 1857, there had been distributed to the schools of Massachusetts under that Act, 3,214 copies of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. Since that time, to February 1, 1858, 353 additional copies have been taken. Some of the larger cities and towns have taken as follows, in addition to their previous supplies : —

Boston, . . . 197 Copies.

New Bedford, 35 "

Roxbury, . . 26 "

Chelsea, . . 8 "

Cambridge, . 15 Copies.

Newburyport, . 7 "

Fitchburg, . . 6 "

Taunton, . . . 10 "

2

TESTIMONIALS CONTINUED.

THEODORE FRELINGHUYSEN, Chancellor of University of New York.

WILLIAM H. CAMPBELL, Editor N. Y. District School Journal.

GEORGE N. BRIGGS, Governor of Massachusetts.

WILLIAM B. CALHOUN, Secretary of State of Massachusetts.

RICHARD S. RUST, Commissioner of Common Schools in New Hampshire.

THEODORE F. KING, Superintendent of Schools in New Jersey.

ROBERT C. WINTHROP, Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives.

EDMUND BURKE, Commissioner of Patents.

JOHN YOUNG, Governor of New York.

CHRISTOPHER MORGAN, Secretary of State, and Superintendent of Common Schools in New York.

ALVAH HUNT, Treasurer of New York.

REV. SAMUEL H. COX, D. D.

LYMAN BEECHER, D. D., President of Lane Seminary.

CALVIN E. STOWE, D. D., Professor in “A” “B”

D. H. ALLEN, Professor in “A” “B”

REV. HEMAN HUMPHREY, D. D., late President of Amherst College.

REV. EZRA KELLER, D. D., President of Wittenburg College, Ohio.

M. A. DIEHL, Professor in “A” “B” “C”

N. A. GIEGER, Professor in “A” “B” “C”

BENJAMIN LARABEE, D. D., President of Middlebury College; and other distinguished gentlemen.

March, 1848.

It is the great work of an American citizen, accomplished after a life of indefatigable study and labor, and deserves the public favor.

It is a truly national work, illustrating at once American learning and American enterprise and art.

We rejoice that it bids fair to become the standard Dictionary to be used by the numerous millions of people who are to inhabit the United States. — Signed by 104 Members of Congress.

Webster's Dictionary, the new edition, revised by Professor Goodrich, and published by G. & C. Merriam, Springfield, Mass., the best Dictionary of the English language extant—an enduring monument of the author's learning and industry, and an honor to our country, ought to be found in every family. Will not the enlightened and liberal, in our various religious societies, furnish their clergymen with a copy, as an indispensable volume in their libraries? Language, and the English language, is the great instrument with which the ministers of the gospel are enabled to do good. If language were better understood, sound logic would more extensively prevail. — Rev. T. H. Gallaudet.

I have been in the habit of using Dr. Webster's Dictionary for several years past, in preference to all others, because it far excels them all, so far as I know, in giving and defining scientific terms. —Pres. Hitchcock, of Amherst College.

I have always considered Dr. Webster's work in lexicography as passed in fullness and accuracy by none in our language. —Rev. Dr. Wayland, President of Brown University, Providence, R. I.

Webster's American Dictionary may now be recommended, without reserve or qualification, as the best extant. —President Olin, of the Wesleyan University, December, 1847.

WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY.—The publishers of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, in Crown Quarto, received an order for twelve copies of that work lately from Ceylon. Its fullness, precision, and accuracy, render it an indispensable aid, not only to the student at home, but to the missionary abroad, as he opens the treasures of the English language to the dark mind of his heathen scholar, or molds to order and system the ruder elements of his native tongue. The revised edition has already been republished in England. —New York Tribune, August, 1848.

Lord Brougham, in a recent conversation with an intelligent American traveller, remarked of this work, —"It has come to be a necessity to every educated man."

The London Literary Gazette, of April 1st, speaks of it in the following terms: —

"The original edition of the American Dictionary is too well known and appreciated in England to require us to dwell at length on its plan and execution. In the present edition, Professor Goodrich has been ably assisted by several eminent men, each distinguished in his own sphere of inquiry; and the result is in the highest degree satisfactory. The work is a noble monument of erudition and indefatigable research; and the style and accuracy of its typography would do honor to the press of any country in Europe. This volume must find its way into all our public and good private libraries, for it provides the English student with a mass of the most valuable information, which he would in vain seek for elsewhere."

A DICTIONARY TO QUEEN VICTORIA.—Messrs. G. & C. Merriam, publishers of the new unabridged edition of Webster's Dictionary, have prepared a very splendid copy of that work, designed as a present to her majesty Queen Victoria. The volume was bound by J. B. Lippincott & Co., of Philadelphia. The following is the letter of presentation: —

"To her Majesty, the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, this copy of Webster's Quarto Dictionary is offered by the American publishers, as a product of Science and the Arts, from the republic which is proud to call England her mother country."

"May your majesty long live to rejoice in the loyal and grateful affection of the millions who inhabit your extended empire, and may the messages and offerings from England to America, and from America to England, be the offerings of peace and of mutual good will."

"May these countries, which are united by a common language, be also one in the common purpose to make this language the bearer and the symbol of the Civilization, the Science, the Freedom, and the Christianity which they shall together diffuse throughout the earth."

"GEORGE & CHARLES MERRIAM.

"SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts, U. S. A., December, 1848."

THE QUEEN'S DICTIONARY.—The Messrs. Merriam, some time since, transmitted to Queen Victoria, through the hand of George Bancroft, the American minister, a magnificently bound copy of their unabridged edition of Webster's Dictionary. It was given to the queen, through her husband, Prince Albert, and its receipt has been acknowledged by the secretary of his royal highness. The acknowledgment is, of course, directed to his excellency the American minister, and we have the pleasure of presenting it to our readers. —Springfield Republican.

"SIR,—I have the honor to inform your excellency, that her majesty the queen has accepted, with great pleasure, the copy of the last edition of Webster's English Dictionary, which, according to the directions you gave me, was laid by me before his royal highness Prince Albert, and the publishers, Messrs. Merriam; and I have been commanded to express to your excellency, and to beg of you, to transmit to Messrs. Merriam, her majesty's gracious thanks for this beautiful present, which her majesty highly values, not only on account of the great merits of her work itself, but still more so as a sign of those feelings towards her royal person on the part of a large portion of the Anglo-American nation, which your excellency informed me it was intended to represent, and which, after the political disunion which has taken place between the United Kingdom and the United States, could not indeed have found a more appropriate way of expressing themselves than the presentation to her majesty of a work on the English language, which directly refers to that powerful and indissoluble bond by which the two cognate nations on the eastern and western side of the Atlantic will forever remain united. Your excellency, as well as Messrs. Merriam, will, no doubt, feel great pleasure in learning that her majesty has placed the work, presented through your excellency, amongst the few selected volumes which compose her own private library.

"I have the honor to be, sir, your excellency's faithful servant,

"C. MEYER,

"Secretary to H. R. H. PRINCE ALBERT.

"BUCKINGHAM PALACE, June 20, 1849.

"His excellency the American minister."

Extract of a letter from Wm. H. Prescott, Esq., author of "Ferdinand and Isabella," "Conquest of Mexico," &c., dated Boston, December 10, 1848.

Every scholar knows the value of a work, which, in addition to its etymological learning, has done so much to enlarge our acquaintance with the English vocabulary, both by the number of its words, and the accuracy and extent of its definitions. These merits have been still further enhanced by the editorial labors of Professor Goodrich, and you have completed the whole by publishing the work in so beautiful a style, and by bringing it at the same time within the convenient dimensions of a single quarto. I doubt not that your liberal enterprise will receive the patronage from the public, to which it is well entitled. That it may do so is the sincere wish of

Your obliged friend and servant,

WM. H. PRESCOTT.

Once possessed of a work so able, copious, and scientifically constructed as WEBSTER'S QUARTO DICTIONARY, one discovers a hundred benefits previously unthought of. Old uses, and new uses, and disuses and abuses, —old terms and new terms, and the history of the rise and progress of terms, together with apt citations, pointed and sparkling, with other benefits I need not attempt to enumerate, combine to make him feel the work a desideratum—to lay it as a corner stone in his library. Or rather, since corner stones are not often disturbed, as a janitor, a librarian, ever at his post, ready to converse on whatever topic is at hand. —Rev. Charles Beecher.

July, 1849.

["TESTIMONIALS CONTINUED.", "3", "WEBSTER'S QUARTO DICTIONARY UNABRIDGED. — In the unanimous judgment of the leading literary press of Great Britain and the United States, Webster's Dictionary is the most learned, the most comprehensive, and the most complete work of the kind in the English language; containing all that is excellent in Dr. Johnson's great work, with numerous philological corrections, more concise and accurate definitions, in many instances, and the addition of some sixteen thousand words — these additions consisting for the most part of terms used in the various departments of science and the arts, in commerce, manufactures, merchandize, and the liberal professions. — *Journal of Education for Upper Canada, Toronto, January, 1849.*", "Our purpose is simply to recommend the present edition of it, (Webster's Quarto Dictionary,) with its copious additions to the text, as a highly valuable publication. Great labor has been bestowed upon it, and all the alterations and articles that have been added, so far as we have noticed them, are great improvements. We hope that it will obtain a wide and profitable circulation. — *North American Review, January, 1848.*", "I regard this book as the most successful effort — the best published American book up to this time. — *James Brown, Esq., firm of Little & Brown, of Boston, February, 1848.*", "All young persons should have a standard Dictionary at their elbows; and while you are about it, *get the best:* that Dictionary is Noah Webster's, the *great work* unabridged. If you are too poor, save the amount from off your back, to put it into your head. — *Phrenological Journal.*", "Dr. Webster's great work is the best Dictionary of the English language. — *London Morning Chronicle.*", "There is no Dictionary but this of Webster's that can be adopted as a standard. We cannot refrain from expressing a hope that our brethren of the type — the printers and editors of newspapers especially — will adopt the orthography of Dr. Webster. In this respect, the printers of the present day have no standard. It is time they had. — *Boston Courier, December 30, 1847.*", "This is the complete Webster; and *perhaps the only complete Dictionary of the English language.* — *Philadelphia United States Gazette.*", "My judgment and feelings are most heartily and permanently engaged in doing all that I can to make Webster the standard wherever the English is spoken, as it deserves to be, must be, is, and will be. — *Professor Stowe.*", "While this Dictionary is the most complete work of the kind that any nation can boast of, it is also one of the cheapest books ever printed in this country. — *New York State District School Journal.*", "The principles of orthography adopted are such, on the whole, as are either allowed by good use, or are fast working their way into favor. The objections which have been felt and expressed against Webster's Dictionary, we think, have been fairly removed by the corrections of Professor Goodrich.", "In all other respects it has never had a rival. In the completeness of the vocabulary, the fullness and precision of its definitions, its learned solution of the true source of words, and its apt and copious authorities, it is a work of amazing labor and scholarship, which has made English lexicography an entirely new thing. * * * * * * * * * *

4

TESTIMONIALS CONTINUED.

LETTER FROM DR. DICK.—Perhaps no foreign writer has been more generally read, on this side the Atlantic, for the last twenty years, than Dr. Thomas Dick. About twenty years ago, E. & G. Merriam published at Brookfield, several editions of Dick's "Christian Philosopher," "Philosophy of Religion," and "Philosophy of a Future State." Some six or eight valuable works have since issued from Dr. Dick's pen, which have been republished here, and have had an extensive and constant sale. One house in Philadelphia publish ten different works of this author, and it may well be questioned whether any modern writer in the language, on the other side the water, has circulated in this country so large a number of volumes.

From such a man, it is gratifying to receive a testimonial to American art and learning. The following letter was received by Messrs. G. & C. Merriam, of this town, in acknowledgment of the receipt of a copy of "Webster's Dictionary," by Dr. Dick, and does honor alike to the writer, and the gentlemen to whom it is directed. —Springfield Republican.

BROUGHTY FERRY, NEAR DUNDEE, Sept. 12, 1849.

MESSRS. G. & C. MERRIAM: Gentlemen, I received from Mr. Wiley, Aldine Chambers, London, your very valuable and highly acceptable present of "Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language," for which I return you my grateful acknowledgments; and as it will always be in my study for reference, it will constantly remind me of your kindness and liberality.

This Dictionary is, undoubtedly, the most complete Dictionary of the English language that has ever been published, and ages will elapse before any other dictionary of that language will be required. It is in every respect, far superior to the folio editions of Johnson's Dictionary. The introductory matter, on the origin and progress of language, etymology, the changes of the English language, and other topics— contains an immense mass of useful information, which must have cost the author a very great degree of labor and research. The pronunciation of Scriptural, Classical, and Geographical names, forms a most valuable appendix to the Dictionary, and cannot be too highly appreciated.

As to the external appearance of the copy which you sent, it could not have been more elegantly and tastefully adorned, although it had been intended to be presented to her majesty, Queen Victoria. Its binding has been much admired by every person who has seen it, and reflects great honor on the taste and ingenuity of the bookbinder.

I trust you will receive a proper remuneration for the risk incurred in publishing such a large and important volume, which contains a quantity of letter press greater than almost any other single volume in my possession. I presume it has an extensive sale.

Wishing you all happiness and prosperity, and with many thanks for your invaluable present, I am, gentlemen,

Your much obliged and humble servant,

THOMAS DICK.

It is acknowledged, both in this country and in America, to be the most copious and most excellent at present in circulation. Dr. Webster spent thirty years on his Dictionary, ten of which were devoted to the etymological department alone, and he has accordingly thrown much additional light on the origin and primary sense of words, and on the affinities between the English and many other languages. —Editor of the London Imperial Dictionary.

THE BEST AND MOST USEFUL DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE EVER PUBLISHED. — London Times.

Dr. Webster has entered more deeply into etymological researches, and with greater success, than any of his predecessors in the same vocation. * * Indeed, on this ground, he stands not only unrivalled, but alone. —North American Review.

We venture to say that there is no Dictionary in the English language which combines so many advantages, with such economy of price, beauty of execution, compactness and clearness, as this Quarto edition of Webster. —New York Observer, December 4, 1847.

We rejoice that the public award is strongly ratifying our long-cherished conviction, that Noah Webster was decidedly the best lexicographer who has treated of the English language. * * Emphatically the Dictionary of our language. —New York Tribune, December 7, 1847.

In its admirable definitions, its accurate philology, its copiousness, good sense, and completeness, it is fast receiving the judgment of the learned world, that it has no equal. —New York Evangelist, December 9, 1847.

If any student or scholar, or any one who has ought to do with the language more than to grunt or gabble in it, can manage, after having once seen this Dictionary, to live without it, his power of abstaining from the necessaries of life will exceed our capabilities of comprehension. —Pittsburg Christian Advocate, December 22, 1847.

All that good taste, patient research, and a happy faculty of discrimination between the good and the bad, could effect, has been done, and his work recognized as standard authority throughout the world, where the English language is spoken. —Pittsburg Gazette, December 14, 1847.

We adopted Webster's Dictionary of the English language as a standard, in preference to every other, from its very first appearance in octavo, and have owned every succeeding edition of the work. The present quarto edition, with quite the ease of manipulation of the octavo, and but little advance of price, combines all the advantages of the original quarto in two volumes, and adds yet more. * * What there was of idiosyncrasy in the former editions, is modified and corrected in the present. * * What gives great value to Dr. Webster's Dictionary, is, first, its definitions, which are remarkably concise, yet accurate and complete. The next distinguishing feature is, that it is, in itself, a History of Language. His researches in this department, continued for a period of so many years, with such iron industry, yet freshness of pursuit — the inquisitiveness, and ardor, and buoyancy of youth extending into his fourscore years and more — are beyond those of any other man. To ourselves this is a deeply interesting study, and for the gratification of one's love of it, in respect to the English language, there is no work to be named with the present edition of Webster. The present edition is a most beautiful specimen of the art of printing — white satin paper, type the best shaped and most distinct, and the fairest impressions. —Boston Christian Register, Jan. 13, 1848.

His pronunciation, as a whole, has been sanctioned, to a great extent, by the best speakers both in England and America. That only can be the best pronunciation, which obtains the consent of the largest number of the well-educated and well-bred of a nation — the more prevailing practice in the circles of taste, refinement, and intelligence. Dr. Webster's method of pronunciation conforms more nearly to such a practice, there is reason to think, than that of most of our orthopists.

* * The value of the volume is greatly enhanced by the addition of a VOCABULARY GIVING THE PRONUNCIATION OF MODERN GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES. It is hardly necessary to say how much a guide of this kind is needed, on the part of a large class in the community. * * The satisfaction derived from a clear, full, and consistent definition, is worth any effort which it may cost; and to all who search for truth, such definition is indispensable. We believe that there is not, within the compass of English literature, a work which, in this respect, will meet the expectations of all who consult a Dictionary, so entirely as the one which has drawn forth these comments. In this feature of the work, as we have seen, it will bear the test of the severest scrutiny. In respect to the other uses of a Dictionary, as a guide to etymology, orthography, pronunciation, &c., we believe it may be relied on with equal confidence. —New Englander, for January, 1848.

As regards etymology and pronunciation, the present volume is all that can be desired. In the former respect, Dr. Webster did nearly all that could be done, and his labor of thirty years throws all former attempts in this department into the shade. In pronunciation, the revised Dictionary is clear and exact, its system is simple, and easily understood and remembered. * * We may now hope that the best and the same Dictionary may be used by both writers and readers, in the family, the school, and the study, to the great profit and instruction of all concerned. —Boston Post, January 12, 1848.

Will be regarded as a standard work, and is a monument to commemorate for ages the name and indefatigable labors of the great American lexicographer. * * A Dictionary, copious, and as near perfection as can be attained. One which is worthy of the country and the age, and which ought to be in the possession of every head of a family. —Boston Journal, January 4, 1848.

The mechanical execution is superb and faultless; in the matters of type, paper, accuracy, skill, and taste, it leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. * * We are happy to express our belief that the present edition of Webster's Dictionary leaves nothing material in English lexicography to be desired. The price of the volume (six dollars) brings it within the reach of the far greater part of intelligent persons. —New York (Baptist) Recorder, December 22, 1847.

The highest standard of authority, with the learned of Great Britain and the United States. —New York Journal of Commerce, Dec., 1847.

The publishers have made a beautiful work of it. A neat and finished and fair book, is a reprint of one of the Graces. And then, as the crowning charm, it is a cheap work — the cheapest work published in America. It ought to be in every family, in every school, in every professional library. And could we whisper in the ear of the young men and the young ladies of our parishes, we would say to them, "Raise six dollars among yourselves, buy this Dictionary, and some Monday morning, within a week or two, call on your pastor and make him such a present as will cause him to remember you, and bless you every time he writes a sermon." —New England Religious Herald, Hartford, January 15, 1848.

It has come back to us from the other side of the Atlantic, endorsed by the warm approval of the rarest scholars of Europe, as "the best lexicon extant!"

This edition of Webster, it should be observed, is UNABRIDGED. The volume before us, singularly beautiful in typographical execution, as it is rich in the results of Dr. Webster's labors and last revisions, amplified by Prof. Goodrich, of Yale, will be a valuable, we had almost said an indispensable, addition to the library of every gentleman and scholar. —Pittsburg Commercial Journal, January 15, 1848.

["ABD", "ABE", "ABI", "AB-BRE-VI-Ä'TION, n. The act of shortening or contracting.", "2. A letter, or a few letters used for a word; as, Gen. for Genesis; U. S. A. for United States of America. Also, an arbitrary mark, used for the same purpose; as, § for dollar; ♀ for copper, or the planet Venus.", "3. The reduction of fractions to lower terms.", "4. In musice, one dash, or more, through the stem of a note, dividing it respectively into quavers, semiquavers, or demisemiquavers.", "P. Cyc. Brande.", "AB-BREVI-Ä-TOR, n. One who abridges or reduces to a smaller compass.", "AB-BREVI-Ä-TORS, n. pl. A college of seventy-two persons in the chancery of Rome, whose duty is to draw up the pope's briefs, and reduce petitions, to grant them to the popes for approval.", "AB-BREVI-Ä-TO-RY, a. Shortening; contracting.", "AB-BREVI-Ä-TURE, n. A letter or character for shortening; an abridgment, a compend.", "A, B, C; the three first letters of the alphabet, used for the whole alphabet.", "A-B-C-Book; a little book for teaching the elements of reading.", "AB-DAL-VI-Ä-TOR, n. The Egyptian melon.", "Shak.", "AB-DAL'S, n. pl. The name of certain fanatics in the Mohammedan countries of Asia, who, in excess of zeal, sometimes run into the streets, and attempt to kill all they meet who are of a different religion; and if they are slain for their madness, they think it meritorious to die, and by the vulgar are termed fanatics.", "Encyc.", "AB-DE-RITE, n. An inhabitant of Abdera, a maritime town in Thrace. Demetrius is so called from being a native of the place. As he was given to laughter,或是 incipient laughter is called abderaian.", "Whitaker.", "AB-DE'T, n. Purification by washing; a Mohammَدian rite.", "AB-DI-CANT, a. [See ABDICATE.] Abdicating; re-oustanding.", "AB-DI-Ä'TATE, v. t. [L. abdico; ab and dico, to dedicate; to bestow; but the classical primary sense of dico is to send or thrust.]", "1. In a general sense, to relinquish, renounce, or abandon.", "Forster.", "2. To abandon an office or trust, without a formal resignation to those who conferred it, or without their consent; also, to abandon a throne, without a formal surrender of the crown.", "Case of King James, Blackstone.", "3. To relinquish an office before the expiration of the time of service. Case of Diocletian, Gibbon; also Case of Peter III., Coxe's Russ.", "4. To reject; to renounce; to abandon as a right. Burke.", "5. To cast away; to renounce; as, to abdicate our mental faculties. [Unusual.] J. P. Smith.", "6. In the civil law, to disclaim a son and expel him from the family, as a father; to disherit during the life of the father. Encyc.", "AB-DI-Ä-CA-TED, v. i. To renounce; to abandon; to cast off; to relinquish as a right, power, or trust.", "Though a lower may ablate for his own person, can not abdicate for the monarchy. Burke.", "AB-DI-Ä-CA-TING, ppr. Relinquishing without a formal resignation; abandoned.", "AB-DI-Ä'TION, n. The act of abdicating; the abandoning of an office or trust, without a formal surrender, or before the usual or stated time of expirition.", "1. A casting off; rejection.", "AB-DI-Ä-TIVE, or AB-DI'-Ä-TIVE, a. Causing or implying abdication.", "AB-DI-TIVE, n. [L. abdo, to hide; ab and do.] Having the power or quality of hiding. [Little used.]", "AB-DI-TO-RY, n. A place for secreting or preserving goods.", "AB-DÖ-MEN, or ABDO-MEN, n. [L., perhaps abdo and omentum.]", "1. The lower belly, or that part of the body which lies between the thorax and the bottom of the pelvis. It is lined with a membrane called peritoneum, and contains the stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, and intestines. It is separated from the breastbone by the diaphragm, and externally by the extremities of the ribs. Quincy.", "2. In insects, that part of the body posterior to the corselet. In some species, it is covered with wings, and a case. It is divided into segments or rings on the sides of which are small spirals by which the insect respirates. D. Nat. Hist.", "AB-DOM-IN-AL, a.", "AB-DOM-IN-AL, n. pl. ABDOMINALS. In ichthyology, the abdominals are a class or order of fish whose ventral fins are placed behind the pectoral, and which belong to the division of bony fish. The", "class contains, among other fishes, the loache, salman, pike, argentine, atherine, mullet, flying fish, monk, and carp. Encyc.", "AB-DOM-IN-AL RING, or IN\"GUIN-AL RING, n. An oblong tendinous ring in each groin, through which passes the spermatic cord in men, and the round ligaments of the uterus in women. Med. Dict.", "AB-DOM-IN-OUS, a. Pertaining to the abdomen; having a large belly. Cooper.", "AB-DUCE', v. t. [L. abduco, to lead away; of ab and duce, to lead. See DUC.]", "To draw from; to withdraw, or draw to a different part; used chiefly in anatomy.", "AB-DU'CENT, a. Drawing from, pulling back; used of those muscles, which are put back certain parts of the body, separating, opening, or bending them. The abducent muscles, called adductors, are opposed to the adduentus muscles or adductors. Med. Dict.", "AB-DUCT', v. t. To take away repetitiously by force. Encyc.", "AB-DUCTION, n. In a general sense, the act of drawing or carrying away.", "2. In surgery, a species of fracture, in which the broken parts recede from each other.", "3. In logic, a kind of argumentation, called by the Greeks apopagade, in which the major is evident, but the minor is not so clear as not to require further proof; as in this syllogism, \"All whom God absolutely are free from sin; are whom God absolutely are free from sin.\" Encyc.", "4. In law, the taking and carrying away of a child, a ward, a wife, &c., either by fraud, misprudence, or open violence. Blackstone.", "AB-DUCTOR, n. In anatomy, a muscle which serves to withdraw, or pull back, a bony plate, or a membrane, which pulls the eye outward.", "2. A person guilty of abduction.", "A-BEAR', (a-bare') v. t. [Sax. aberan.] To bear; to behave. [Obs.]", "Spenṣer.\n\nA-BEAR'ANCE, n. [from abear, now disused; from bear, to carry.] Behavior, demeanor. Blackstone.", "AB-CE-DÄ'-RI-AN, n. [a word formed from the first four letters of the alphabet.] One who teaches the letters of the alphabet, or a learner of the letters.", "A-BCE-CE-DÄ'-RI-AN, } by the letters of the alpha-bet.", "A-BED', a. Pertaining to, or formed to, bear.", "A-BEL' poplar. as by [Obs.] On or about.", "A-BELÈ', or A'BEL-TREE, n. A name of the white poplar. [See POPULAR.]", "A-BELI-ANS, AB-L-O'-NI-ANS, or A'BEL-TLES, n. pl. In church history, a reputed temporary sect in Africa, mentioned only by Augustine, who states that they married, but lived in continence, after the manner, as they were wont, of Abel, and attempted to maintain the sect by adopting the children of others. J. Murdock.", "A-BEL-MOSK, n. A trivial name of a species of hibiscus, or Syrian rose. The plant rises on a herbaceous stalk, three or four feet, sending out two or three side branches. The seeds have a much less odor, and are smaller, for which reason the Arabians mix them with coffee.", "A-BER, n. In Celica, the mouth of a river.", "A-BER-DE-VINE, n. The European siskin, Carpentaria spinus, a small green and yellow finch.", "A-ER-RANCE, } n. [L. aberans, aberro, to wander from; of ab and erro, to wander.]", "A-BER-RAN-CY, } a. A wandering or deviating from the right way, but rarely used in a literal sense. In a figurative sense, a deviation from truth, error, mistake; and in morals, a fault, a deviation from rectitude. Brown.", "AB-ER-RANT, a. Wandering; straying from the object.", "AB-ER-RATION, n. [L. aberratio.] The act of wandering from the right way; deviation from truth or moral rectitude; deviation from a straight line.", "2. In astronomy, a small apparent motion of the fixed stars, occasioned by the progressive motion of light and the earth's annual motion in its orbit. It is sometimes said, \"the earth moves with a velocity of twenty-four miles an hour.\" It is sometimes

["ABS", "ABS", "ABS", "A-BROOD', *ado*. [See Brood.] In the action of brooding. *Not in use.* *Sancroft.*", "A-BROOD'ING, *n.* A sitting abrood. *Not in use.* *Barret.*", "A-BROOK', *v. t.* To brook, to endure. *Not in use.* See Brook.", "A-BROT'A-NOID, *n.* [Gr. αροργον, and ειδος, form.] A species of genus belonging to the genus Madrepora. It is one of the reef-corals of the East Indies.", "A-BROT'A-NUM, *n.* [Gr. αροργον.] A species of evergreen plant arranged under the genus *Artemisia*: called also *Southernwood*.", "A-BRUP'T', *a.* [L. abruptus, from *arbrumo* to break off; of ab and *rumbo*. See RUPTURE.]", "1. Literally, broken off, or broken short. Hence, 2. Steep, craggy; applied to rocks, precipices, and the like.", "3. Figuratively; sudden; without notice to prepare the mind for the event; as, an abrupt entrance or address.", "4. Unconnected; having sudden transitions from one subject to another; as, an abrupt style. *Ben Junson.*", "5. In *botany*, an abrupt pinnate leaf is one which has neither leaflet, nor tendril at the end. *Martien.*", "AB-RUPT', *n.* A chasm or gulf with steep sides. *Over the vast abrupt.* *This of the word is infrequent.*", "AB-RUPT'ED, *v. t.* Torn off; torn under.", "AB-RUP'TION, *n.* A sudden breaking off; a violent separation of bodies.", "AB-RUPT'LY, *ado.* Suddenly; without giving notice, or without the usual forms; as, giving the minister left France abruptly.", "AB-RUPT'NESS, *n.* A state of being broken; craggedness; steepness.", "AB-RUPT'NESS, *n.* A sudden change in presence; unceremonious haste or vehemence.", "AB'SCESS, *n.* [L. abscessus, from ab and cedo, to go from.] A cavity containing pus, or a collection of purulent matter, in some part of the body, formed by the process called *suppuration*, consequent on inflammation.", "AB-SCIND', *v. t.* [L. abscindo, to cut off. [Littere used.]] A part of the diameter or transverse axis of a conic section, intercepted between the vertex or some other fixed point and a semidiameter. *Encyc.*", "AB-SCISS, *n.* [L. abscessis, from ab and scindo, to cut; Gr. αξιζω. See Scissors.]", "AB-SCIS'SA, *} to cut; Gr. αξιζω. See Scissors.] In conics, a part of the diameter or transverse axis of a conic section, intercepted between the vertex or some other fixed point and a semidiameter. *Encyc.*", "AB-SCIS'SA, *} to cut; Gr. αξιζω. See Scissors.] Generally, any part of the diameter or axis of a curve, comprised between any fixed point where all the abscesses begin, and another line, called the *ordinate*, which is terminated in the curve. *Barlow.*", "AB-SCIS'SION, *n.* [See Abscissus.] In surgery, the separation of any corneal or useless part of the body, by a sharp instrument; applied to the soft parts, as amputation is to the bones and flesh of a limb. *Quincy.*", "2. In *rhetoric*, a figure of speech, when, beginning to say a thing, a speaker stops abruptly, as supposing the matter sufficiently understood. Thus, *the man who is a good judge of honor and candor, and such generosity — but I need not say more*.", "AB-SCOND', *v. i.* [L. abscondo, to hide, of abs and *condo*, to hide, i. e. to withdraw, or to thrust aside or into a corner or secret place.]", "1. To retire from public view, or from the place in which one resides or is ordinarily to be found; to withdraw or absent one's self in a private manner; to be concealed; appropriately used of persons who secrete themselves to avoid a legal process.", "2. To hide, withdraw, or be concealed. *The marmot abscesses in winter.* *Ray.*", "AB-SEOND'ER, *n.* One who withdraws from public notice, or conceals himself from public view.", "AB-SEOND'ING, *ppr.* or *a.* Withdrawing privately from public view; as, an *abscessed debtor*, who confines himself to his apartments, or absents himself to avoid the ministers of justice. In the latter sense, it is properly an adjective.", "AB'SENCE, *n.* [L. absens, from *absum*, *abesse*, to be away; *ab* and *sum.*]", "1. A state of being at a distance in place, or not in company. It is used to denote any distance indefinitely, either in the same town, or country, or in foreign country, and primarily supposes presence or presence; as, speak well of one in his *absence*.", "2. Want; destitution; implying no previous presence. In the absence of conventional law. *Ch. Kent.*", "3. In law, non-appearance; not being in court to answer.", "4. Heedlessness; inattention to things present. *Absence of mind is the attention of the mind to a*", "subject which does not occupy the rest of the company, and which draws the mind from things or objects which are present, to others distant or foreign.", "AB/SENT, *a.* Not present; not in company; at such a distance as to prevent communication. It is used also for being in a foreign country; as, a gentleman is absent on his travels.", "*Absent from one another.—Gen. xxxxi. 49.*", "2. Heedless; inattentive to persons present, or to subjects of conversation in company; as, an absent man is uncivil to the company.", "3. In familiar language, not at home; as, the master of the house is absent. In other words, he does not wish to be disturbed by company.", "AB-SENT', *v. t.* To depart to such a distance as to prevent a encounter; to retire or withdraw; to bear to appear in presence; used with the reciprocal pronoun; as, let a man absent himself from the company.", "AB-SENT'ED, *pp.* Retired or withdrawn.", "AB-SENT-EE', *n.* One who withdraws from his country, office, or estate; one who removes to a distant place or to another country.", "In recent years, *writers*, a landholder or capitalist, who derives his revenue from one country, and resides in and expels it in another. *P. Cyc.*", "AB-SENT-EE/ISM, *n.* Absence from duty or station: applied to the act of residing in a country different from that from which one's resources are derived.", "AB-SENT'ER, *n.* One who absents himself.", "AB-SENT'ING, *ppr.* Departing; withdrawing.", "AB-SENT'MENT, *n.* A state of being absent.", "AB-SINTH-I-AN, *a.* [from *absinthium*.] Of the nature of wormwood. *Barron.*", "AB-SINTH'-Ä-TED, *a.* Impregnated with wormwood. *Randolph.*", "AB-SINTH'-LUM, *n.* [Gr. αλαινωλ; *Per. اَسْتَقْبَلَتْ بِمَنْ أَسْبَقَ بِلَوْمْ]", "AB-SINTH'-LUM, *n.* [Gr. αλαινωλ; *Per. اَسْتَقْبَلَتْ بِمَنْ أَسْبَقَ بِلَوْمْ] *afsinth*: the same in Chaldaic. Budeus, in his commentaries on Theophrast, supposes the composition of a priv. and ψυχιδις, *delight*, so named from its bitterness. But it may be an Oriental word.", "The common wormwood; a bitter plant, used as a tonic. A species of Artemisia. *Encyc.*", "AB/SIS, *n.* In *astronomy*. [See *Apsis*.]", "AB/SO-LUT', *a.* [L. abscessus. See *Absolve*.] 1. Literally, in a general sense, free or independent of any thing extraneous. Hence,", "2. Complete in itself; positive; as, an absolute declaration.", "3. Unconditional; as, an absolute promise.", "4. Existing independent of any other cause; as, God is absolute.", "5. Unlimited by extraneous power or control; as, an absolute government or prince.", "6. Not relative; as, absolute space. *Stillingfleet.*", "7. In chemistry, pure, unmixed, as, absolute alcohol.", "In grammar, the case *absolute*, is when a word or member of a sentence is not immediately dependent; the case *absence* is a sentence in government. A clause independent. *Absolute equation*, in astronomy, is the sum of the optic and eccentric equations.", "*Absolute numbers*, in algebra, are those having no letters annexed; as, 2a+3=48. The two latter numbers are absolute or pure. *Encyc.*", "*Absolute gravity*, in physics, is space considered without relation to a body. *Encyc.*", "*Absolute property*, in philosophy, is that in property in bodies by which they are said to weigh so much, without regard to circumstances of modification, and this is always as the quantity of matter they contain. *Bailey.*", "AB/SO-LUT'-E, *adn.* Completely; wholly; as, a thing is absolutely unintelligible.", "2. Without dependence or relation; in a state unconnected. *In chemistry, we can not discontinue, we can not absolutely approve, either willingness to live, or forwardness to die.* *Hooker.*", "3. Without restriction or limitation; as, God reigns absolutely.", "4. Without condition; as, God does not forgive absolutely, but upon condition of faith and renunciation. *Encyc.*", "5. Positively, peremptorily; as, command me not to go. *Milton.*", "AB/SO-LUT'-NESS, *n.* Independence; completeness in itself.", "6. Despotic authority, or that which is subject to no extrinsic restriction, or control. *In law, an acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent. In the canon law, a remission of sins pronounced by a priest in favor of a penitent.*", "Among *Protestants*, a sentence by which an excommunicated person is released from his liability to punishment. *Ayliffe. South.*", "AB/SO-L'T-ISM, *n.* State of being absolute; or principles of absolute government.", "2. Doctrine of predestination. *Ash.*", "AB/SO-L'T-IST, *n.* One who is in favor of an absolute government.", "AB/SO-L'T-ORY, or AB-SOL'-U-TO-RY, *a.* Absolving; that absolves.", "AB-SOLV'-A'T-ORY, *a.* [from *absolve*.] Containing absolution, pardon, or release; having power to absolve. *Cotgrave.*", "AB-SOLVE', (ab-zolv'), *v. t.* [L. absolto, from ab and solto, to lose or release; Ch. חֶלֶק, *shalah*, to absolve, to finish; Heb. חֶל, *shal*, to loose or loosen. See *SOLVE*.]", "To set free or release from some obligation, debt, or responsibility; or from that which subjects a person to a burden or penalty; as, to *absolve* a person from a promise; to *absolve* an offender, which amounts to the equivalent and remission of his punishment. Hence the civil law, *for forgive, or remit*. In ordinary language, its sense is to set free or *release* from an engagement. Formerly, good writers used the word in the sense of *finish, accomplish*; as, to *absolve* work, in Milton; but in this sense, it seems to be obsolete. Young has also used it for *rejoice*; *explain*; as, \"It has also this?\" but this sense is in *Lyre*.", "AB-SOLV'ED, *pp.* Released; acquitted; remitted; declared innocent.", {"bbox": [714, 454, 1021, 479

["ABS", "ABS", "ABU", "dulgence; as, to *abstain* from the use of ardent\nspirits; to *abstain* from luxuries.", "*Abstain* from meals offered to idols. — *Acts* xxv.", "AB-STE-MI-OUS, a. [L. *abstemiua*, from *abs* and *temetum*, an ancient name of strong wine, according to Fabius and Gellius. But Vossius supposes it to be from *abstineo*, by a change of *n* to *m*. It may be from the root of *tineo*, to fear, that is, to withdraw.]", "1. Sparing in diet; refraining from a free use of food and strong drinks.", "Instances of longevity are chiefly among the *abstinent*.", "Arbutnotol.", "2. Sparing in the enjoyment of animal pleasures of any kind. [This sense is less common, and perhaps not legitimate.]", "3. Sparingly used, or used with temperance; be-\nlonging to abstinence; as, an *abstemious* diet, an\n*abstemious* life.", "AB-STE-MI-OUS-LY, *adv.* Temperately; with a\nsparing use of meat or drink.", "AB-STE'MI-OUSS-NESS, n. The quality of being\ntemperate or sparing in the use of food and strong\ndrinks.", "This word expresses a greater degree of absti-\nnence than temperance.", "AB-STE'NENT, n. The act of abstaining.\nAB-STERGE', (ab-ster') v. t. [L. *abstergeo*, of *abs* and *tergeo*, to wipe. *Tergeo* may have a common origin with the Sw. *torcka*, G. *trocknen*, D. *droogen*, *Sax. drygan*, to dry; for these Teutonic verbs sig-\nnify to *wipe*, as well as to dry.]", "To wipe or make clean by wiping; to cleanse by\nlotions or similar applications. [Used chiefly as a\n*physical* agent.]", "AB-STERG'ENT, *a.* Wiping; cleaning.", "AB-STERG'ENT, n. A medicine which cleanses\naway foulness, as lotions; but the use of the\nword is nearly superseded by *detergent*, which see.", "AB-STER'ION, n. [from L. *abstergo*, *abstergous*]\nThe act of wiping clean; or a cleansing by lotions\nor similar applications. [See *DEREGE*, *DETER-ON*.", "AB-STER'SIVE, *a.* Cleansing; having the quality of removing foulness. [See *DEREGE*.]", "AB'STI-NENCE, n. [L. *abstinentia*. See *ABSTAIN*.] 1. In general, the act or practice of voluntarily re-\nfraining from, or forbearing any action.", "*Abstinence* from *everything* which can be deemed labor.", "Paley's Philos.", "More appropriately,", "2. The refraining from an indulgence of appetite,\nor from customary gratifications of animal propen-\nsities. It denotes a total forbearance, as in fasting,\nor a forbearance of the usual quantity. In the lat-\nter sense, it may coincide with *temperance*; but in\ngeneral, it denotes a more sparing use of enjoy-\nments than *temperance*. (Besides, *abstinence* implies\nprevious free indulgence; *temperance* does not.)", "AB'STI-NENT, *a.* Refraining from indulgence, es-\npecially in the use of food and drink.", "AB'STI-NENT-LY, *adv.* With abstinence.", "AB'STI-NENTS, n. pt. A sect which appeared in\nFrance and Spain in the third century, who op-\nposed marriage, condemned the use of flesh meat,\nand placed the Holy Spirit in the class of created\nbeings.", "AB-START'ED, *a.* Forced away.", "AB-STRAG', v. t. [L. *abstraho*, to draw from or separate; from *abs* and *traho*, which is the Eng. *draf*. See *DRAW*.]", "1. To draw from, or to separate; as, to *abstract* an action from *abstinentia*, the civil effects; to *abstract* spirit from any substance by distillation; but, in this lat-\nter sense, *extract* is now more generally used.", "2. To separate ideas by the operation of the\nmind; to consider one part of a complex object by\nitself.", "3. To select or separate the substance of a book\nor writing; to epitomize or reduce to a summary.", "4. To take secretly for one's own use from the\nproperty of another, when placed in one's power;\nto purloin; as, to *abstract* goods from a parcel, or\nmoney from a bank. *Howvit.*", "5. In chemistry, to separate, as the more volatile\nparts of a substance by repeated distillation, or at\nleast by distillation.", "AB-STRACT, *a.* [L. *abstracitus*.] Separate; dis-\ntinct from something else. An *abstract* idea, in\nmetaphysics, is an idea separated from a complex\nobject, or from other ideas which naturally accompany\nit; as the stability of marble contemplated\napart from its color or figure. *Encyc.*", "AB-STRACT terms are, as a rule, which express abstract\nideas, as beauty, whiteness, roundness, without\nregarding any subject in which they exist; or *ab-\nstract* terms are the names of orders, genera, or\nspecies of things, in which there is a combination\nof similar qualities. *Stewart.*", "Abstract numbers are numbers used without ap-\nlication to things, as 6, 8, 10; but when applied", "to any thing, as 6 feet, 10 men, they become con-\ntact.", "*Abstract* or pure mathematics, is that which treats of magnitude or quantity, without restriction to any species of particular magnitude, as arithmetic and geometry; opposed to which is *mixed*, mathematies, which treats of simple properties, and the relations of quantity, as applied to sensible objects, as hydrostatics, navigation, optics, &c. *Encyc.*", "2. Separate; existing in the mind only; as, an *ab-\nstract* subject; an *abstract* question; and, difficult,\nabstruse.", "AB-STRAGT, n. A summary, or epitome, contain-\ning the general view of a particular view, or the principal\nheads of a treatise or writing. *Watts.*", "2. Formerly, an extract, or a smaller quantity,\ncontaining the essence of a larger.", "In the *abstract*, in a state of separation, as a sub-\nject considered in the *abstract*, i. e. without re-\nference to particular persons or things.", "AB-STRAG'T'ED, *pp.* or *a*. Separated; purloined; refined; exiled; abstuse; absent in mind.", "Milton. *Donne*.", "AB-STRAG'T'ED-LY, *adv.* In a separate state, or in\ncontemplation only. *Dryden.*\nAB-STRAG'T'ED-NESS, n. The state of being ab-\nstrated.", "AB-STRAG'T'ER, n. One who makes an abstract,\nor summary.", "AB-STRAG'T'ING, *ppr.* Separating; purloining; making a summary.", "AB-STRAG'T'ION, n. The act of separating, or state of being separated.", "2. The operation of the mind when occupied by\nabstract ideas; as when we contemplate some par-\nticular object, which is not the same kind, and\nseparates from the rest. Thus, when the mind con-\nsiders the branch of a tree by itself, or the color of\nthe leaves, as separate from their size or figure, the\nact is called *abstraction*. So, also, when it consid-\ners *whiteness*, *softness*, *virtue*, *existence*, as separate\nfrom any particular objects. *Encyc.*", "The act of understanding has been presented to it,\nis distinguished by logicians by the name of *ab-\nstraction*. *Stewart.*", "Abstraction is the ground-work of classification,\nby which things are arranged in orders, genera, and\nspecies. We separate in the idea the qualities of\ncertain objects, which are different from each other,\nfrom others which are the same kind, and, in order\nto separate them, we adjust them in each, and arrange\nthe objects having the same properties in a class, or\ncollected body.", "3. A separation from worldly objects; a recluse\nlife; as, a hermit's *abstraction*.", "4. Absence of mind; inattention to present ob-\njects.", "5. Taking for one's own use part of the property\nof another when placed in one's power. [Recent\nusage.]", "6. In the process of distillation, the term is used\nto denote the separation of the volatile parts, which\nrise, come over, and are condensed in a receiver,\nfrom those which are fixed. It is chiefly used,\nwhenever it is necessary to separate any substance\nin a retort, and distilled off, to change its\nstate, or the nature of its composition. *Nicholson.*", "AB-STRAG'T'IVE, *a.* Having the power or quality of *abstractive*.", "AB-STRAG'T'IVE, *a.* Abstracted, or drawn\nAB-STRAG'T'I'-TIO'SN, } from other substances,\nparticularly from vegetables, without fermentation.", "Cye", "AB-STRAG'T'LY, *a.* Separately; absolutely; in\na state or manner unconnected with any thing\nelse; as, * matter abstractly* considered.", "AB'STRAG'T-NESS, n. A separate state; a state\nof being in contemplation only, or not connected\nwith any object.", "AB-STRAG'T'ED, *v.* to Unbind.", "AB-STRÜGE', v. t. [Infra.] To thrust away. [*Not used*].", "AB-STRÜGE', *a.* [L. *abstrusus*, from *abstrudo*, to", "thrust away, to conceal; *abs* and *trudo*; *Ar.*", "tarada: Ch. *rā* ṛ, to thrust; Syr. Sam. id.; Eng. to\nthrust.] *Hid*: concealed; hence, remote from ap-\nprochension; difficult to be comprehended or under-\nstood; opposed to what is *obvious*. [*Not used* of\n*material objects*.] *Encyc.*", "Metaphysics is an *abstractive* science.", "Encyc.", "AB-STRÜGE'T, *adv.* In a concealed manner; ob-\nscurely, in a manner not to be easily understood.", "AB-STRÜGE'NESS, n. Obscurity of meaning; the\nstate or quality of being difficult to be understood.", "Boyle.", "AB-STRÜGL'TY, *a.* Abstruseness; which that is\nabstruse.", "AB-SCHE', v. t. To bring to an end by a gradual\nwaste; to consume.", "AB-SURD', *a.* [L. *absurdus*, from *ab* and *surdus*,", "deaf, insensible.] Opposed to manifest truth; in-\nconsistent with reason, or the plain dictates of com-\nmon sense. An *absurd* man acts contrary to the\nclear dictates of reason or sound judgment. An\n*absurd* proposition contradicts obvious truth. An\n*absurd* practice or opinion is repugnant to the\nreason or common apprehension of men. It is ab-\n*absurd* to say six and six make ten, or that plants will\ntake root in stone.", "AB-SURD'I-TY, n. The quality of being inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment. Want of judgment, applied to men; want of propriety, as to things.", "2. That which is absurd; in this sense it has a\nplural; the *absurdities* of men.\nAB-SURD'LY, *adv.* In a manner inconsistent with\nreason, or obvious propriety.", "AB-SURD'NESS, n. The same as ABSURDITY, and less used.", "A-BUND'ANCE, *n.* [Fr. *abondance*. See *ABOND*.]", "G. ABSURDITY; an *overriding* quantity; ample suffi-\nciency; in strictness applicable to quantity only;\nbut sometimes used of number; as, an *abundance* of\npeasants. *Addison.*", "In *Scripture*.", {"bbox": [786, 443, 1066, 466], "category": "Text

["ACC", "ACC", "ACC", "AE-CIPT-TRINE, a. [Supra.] Seizing; rapacious;", "a. the accipitrine order of birds. Ed. Eneye.", "AE-CIPT, v. t. [L. ad and cito, to]; to call; to cite; to summon. [Not used;]", "AE-CLAIM', v. t. [L. acclamo, ad and clamo, to cry out; Sp. clamor; Port. clamor; It. clamore; W. llecain; Ir. liumhan. See CLAIM, CLAMOR.] To applaud. [Little used.] Hall.", "AE-CLAIM', n. A shout of joy; acclamation.", "AE-CLA-MATION, n. [L. acclanatio. See Milton.]", "1. A shout of applause uttered by a multitude. Anciently, acclamation was a form of words, ut- tered with vehemence, somewhat resembling a song, sometimes accompanied with acclamations which were given by the hands. Acclamations were, especially, military, nuptial, senatorial, synodi- mical, theatrical, &c. they were musical and rhythm- mical, and bestowed for joy, respect, and even reproach, and often repeated, five, twenty, and even sixty and eighty times. In the later ages of Rome, acclamations were performed by a chorus of music instructed for the purpose. Engeci.", "2. In modern times, acclamations are expressed by human hands, or by hands of men; and often by re- pating *vivat rei, vivat respublica, longe live the king or republic, or other words expressive of joy and good wishes.*", "3. In *archoLOGY*, a representation, in sculpture or on medals, of people expressing joy. *Aclamation medals* are those on which laudatory acclamations are recorded. *Elmes.*", "AE-CLAM'A-TO-RY, a. Expressing joy or applause by shouts, or clapping of hands.", "AE-CLIM'ATE, v. t. [ac, for ad, and climate.] To habituate the body to a climate not native, so as not to be peculiarly exposed to its endemic diseases. AE-CLIM'ATE-DIED, pp. or a. Habitated to a foreign climate, or a climate not native; so far accustomed to a foreign climate as not to be peculiarly liable to its endemic diseases. *Med. Repository.*", "AE-CLIM'ATION, n. The process of becoming habituated to a foreign climate.", "2. The state of being habituated or inured to a climate.", "AE-CLIM'ATION-TIZE, n. t. To inure plants to a climate different from that which is natural to them. *Brande.*", "AE-CLIM'ATION-TIZ-ED, pp. and a. Inured to a different climate.", "AE-CLIM'TIZ-ING, ppr. Inuring to a different climate.", "AE-CLIM'TURE, n. Act of acclimating, or state of being acclimated.", "AE-CLIV-ITY, n. [L. acclusiv, acclusin, ascending. from ad and cliuus, an ascent; Ir. clu; Gr. Eol. κλιντις; Sax. clif, a cliff, bank or shore; cliifian, cleifan, to cleave or split. See CLIFF.]", "A slope or inclination of the earth, as the side of a hill, considered as ascending, in opposition to de- cleity, or a side descending. Rising ground; ascent; the talus of a rampart.", "AE-CLIV'OUS, a. Rising, as a hill with a slope.", "AE-CLOY', v. t. To fill; to stuff; to fill to satiety. [See Cloy.]", "AE-COIL', v. i. To encircle; to gather around.", "AE-CO-LADE', n. [L. ad and culum, neck.]", "A ceremony formerly used in conferring knight- hoods, but whether an embrace or a blow, seems not to be settled. *Cye.*", "AE-CO-LENT, n. [L. ad and colo.] A borderer. One who dwells on a border of a country, or near. *Ash.*", "AE-COM'MO-DA-BLE-ALE, a. [Fr. accommodable. See ACCOMMODATE.]", "That may be fitted, made suitable, or made to agree. *Little used.*", "AE-COM'MO-DA-BLE-NESS, n. The capability of accommodating.", "AE-COM'MO-DÄTE, v. t. [L. accommo], to apply or suit, from ad and commado, to profit or help; of con, with, and *modus*, measure, proportion, limit, or manner. See MODE.", "2. To supply with or furnish; — followed by with; as, to accommodate a man with apartments.", "3. To supply with conveniences; as, to accommo- date a friend.", "4. To reconcile things which are at variance; to adjust; as, to accommodate differences.", "5. To show fitness and agreement; to apply; as, to accommodate prophesy to events.", "6. To lend to — a commercial sense.", "In an intransitive sense, to agree, to be conform- able to, as by Boyle. [Obs.]", "AE-COM'MO-DATE, a. Suitable; fit; adapted; as, accommodable to the end. *R. Tullotis.*", "AE-COM'MO-DATE-DIED, pp. Fitted; adjusted; adapt- ed; applied; also, furnished with conveniences; as, we are well accommodated with lodgings.", "AE-COM'MO-DATE-LY, adv. Suitably; filly. [Little used.] More.", "AE-COM'MO-DATE-NESS, n. Fitness. [Little used.]", "AE-COM'MO-DÄ-TING, ppr. Adapting; making suitable; reconciling; furnishing with conveni- ences; applying.", "AE-COM'MO-DÄ-TING, a. Adapting one's self to: obliging; yielding to the desires of others; disposed to comply, and to oblige another; as, an accommo- dating man.", "AE-COM'MO-DÄ-TION, n. Fitness; adaptation; — followed by to.", "The organization of the body with accommodation to its func- tion. *Hale.*", "2. Adjustment of differences; reconciliation; as of parties in dispute.", "3. Provision of conveniences.", "4. In the plural, conveniences; things furnished for use; — chiefly applied to lodgings.", "5. In mercantile language, accommodation is for a loan of money which is often a great con- venience. An *accommodation* note, in the language of the directors, is one drawn and offered for dis- count, for the purpose of borrowing its amount, in opposition to a note which the owner has received in payment for goods.", "In England, an *accommodation* bill is one given in- stead of a loan of money. *Crabbe.*", "6. It is also used of a note lent merely to accom- modate the borrower.", "7. In *theology*, accommodation is the application of a passage of something not originally intended by it, on the ground of resemblance or analogy.", "Many of those quotations were probably intended as nothing more than accommodation. *Paley.*", "8. In marine language, an *accommodation* ladder is a light ladder hung over the side of a ship at the gangway.", "AE-COM'MO-DA-TIVE, a. Furnishing accommodation.", "AE-COM'MO-DÄ-TOR, n. One that accommodates; one that adorns the ladder. *Warburton.*", "AE-COM'PA-NA-BLE, a. [See ACCOMPANY.] So- ciable. [Not used.]", "AE-COM'PA-NI-LED, pp. Attended by; connected with.", "AE-COM'PA-NI-MENT, n. [Fr. *accompagnement*. See ACCOMPANY.] Something that attests as or a circumstance, or which is added by way of a symmetry. to the principal thing, or for the sake of symmetry.", "Accompaniment, in music, the subordinate part, or parts, accompanying the voice, or a principal instrument; also, the harmony of a figured base.", "Accompaniment of the scale, in music, the harmony assigned to the series of notes forming the dittian scale, ascending and descending. *P. Cye.*", "Accompaniment, in painting, an object accessory to the principal object, and serving for its ornament or illustration. *Brande.*", "AE-COM'PA-NIST, n. The performer in music who takes the accompanying part. *Busby.*", "AE-COM'PA-NY, v. t. [Fr. *accompagner*; Sp. accom- panier; Port. *accompanhar*. See COMPANY.]", "1. To go with or attend as a companion or asso- ciate on a journey, walk, &c.; as, a man accom- panies his friend to church, or on a tour.", "2. To be with, as connected; to attend; as, pain companies disease.", "AE-COM'PA-NY, v. i. To attend; to be an asso- ciate; as, to *accompany with others*. [Obs.]", "2. To cohabit.", "3. In music, to perform the accompanying part in a composition.", "AE-COM'PA-NY-ING, ppr. or a. Attending; going with, as a companion.", "AE-COM'PLICE, n. [Fr. *complice*; L. complicatius, folded like, of con, with, and picco to fold; *plugue*, to plant; Arm. *pleing*, see COMPLEX and PLEDGE.] An associate in a crime; a partner or partaker in guilt. It was formerly used in a good sense for a co-operator, but this sense is wholly obvi- ous. It is followed by *before a person*; as, A was an accomplice with B in the murder of C.", "Dryden used it with *before to a thing*.", "AE-COM'PLICE-SHIP, n. The state of being an accomplice. *H. Taylor.*", "AE-COM'PLISH, v. t. [Fr. *accompilr*, to finish, from ad and L. *compleo*, to complete. See COMPLETE.] To complete; to finish entirely.", "That He would accomplish seventy years in the dissolution of Jerusalem. — Dan. ix.", "2. To execute; and, to accomplish a vow, wrath, or fury. Lev. xlii. and xx.", "3. To gain; to obtain or effect by successful ex- ercises; as, to accomplish a purpose. *Prov. xiii.*", "4. To fulfill or bring to pass; as, to accomplish a prophesy.", "This that is written must yet be accomplished in me. — Luke xxi.", "5. To furnish with qualities which serve to", "render the mind or body complete, as with valuable endowments and elegant manners.", "6. To arm and equip.", "The *armakers accomplishing the knights*. *Shak.*", "AE-COM'PLISH-ED, pp. Finished; completed; ful- filled; executed.", "2. a. Well endowed with good qualities and manners; complete in acquirements; having a finished education; applied usually to acquired qualifications, without including moral excellence.", "3. Fashionable. *Swift.*", "AE-COM'PLISH-ER, n. One who accomplishes.", "AE-COM'PLISH-ING, ppr. Finishing; completing;", {"bbox": [715, 333, 10

["ACC", "ACC", "ACC", "which the reeds are inserted, and upon which the reeds play. Each key playing on two apertures, the reeds of which are furnished with reversed valves, is made to command two successive notes in the scale, according as the wind is drawn in by expanding the chest, or forced out by closing it. In addition to the keys, there is a slide which opens upon reeds attuned to the harmonies of the tonic and dominant, by opening which the air has an harmonic accompaniment. The bottom of the chest is furnished with a large key, by which the chest may be opened, and suddenly exhausted or filled, as need requires. This is a melodious portable instrument, commanding two or three octaves in the diatonic scale. *Profe. Fitch.*", "AE-COR-P-O-RATE, v. t. To unite. [Not in use.] [See CORPORATE.] Milton.", "AE-COST', v. i. To account, accouter; ad and cote, side, bosom, coast; ad kust; D. kust; Dan. kyst.]", "To approach; to draw near; to front, or face. [Not in use.]", "2. To speak first to; to address. Milton. Dryden.", "AE-COST', v. i. To adjoin. [Not in use.] Spenser.", "AE-COST'-A-BLE, a. Easy of access; familiar. Howell.", "AE-COST'ED, pp. or a. Addressed; first spoken to. In heraldry, being side by side.", "AE-COST'ING, ppr. Addressing by first speaking to.", "AE-COUC'HE/MENT, (ac-coosh/mong,) n. [Fr.] Delivery in child-bed.", "AE-COUC'-EUR', (ac-coo-share') n. [Fr.] A man who assists women in childbirth.", "AE-COUNT, n. [Fr. count; It. coute; Sp. cuenta.]", "Arm. count, an account, reckoning, computation. Formerly writers used *accompt* from the *fr. compte*.", "See Count.", "1. A sum stated on paper; a registry of a debt or credit; of debts and credits, or charges; an entry in a book or on paper of things bought or sold, of payments, services, &c., including the names of the parties to the transaction, date, and price of value of the thing described.", "Account signifies a single entry, or charge, or a statement of a number of particular debts and credits, in a book or on a separate paper; and in the plural, is used for the books containing such entries.", "2. A computation of debts and credits, or a general statement of particular sums; as, the account stands to let him pay, and to pay him a sum.", "4. Narrative; relation; statement of facts; recital of particular transactions and events, verbal or written; as, an account of the revolution in France. Hence, to tell the story of the revolution.", "5. An assignment of reasons; explanation by a recital of particular transactions, given by a person in an employment, or to a superior, often implying responsibility; answering for conduct.", "Give an account of his stewardship. — Luke 29.", "Without responsibility or obligation.", "He giveth not account of his matters. — Job xxxvii.", "6. Reason or consideration, as a motive; as, on all accounts, on every account.", "7. Value; importance; estimation; that, is such a state of persons or things as render them worthy of more or less estimation; as, men of account.", "What is the son of man, that thou makest account of him? — Ps. xlv.", "8. Profit; advantage; that, is a result or production worthy of estimation. To find our account in a pursuit; to turn to account. Philip. iv.", "9. Regard; behalf; sake; a sense deduced from charges on book.", "Pat that my account. — Phillem. 18.", "To make account, that is, to have a previous opinion or expectation, is a sense now obsolete.", "A sort of account, in law, is a writ which the plaintiff brings demanding that the defendant should render his just account, or show good cause to the contrary; called also an *action of account*. *Covel.*", "AE-COUNT', v. t. To judge, judge, consider, think, or hold in opinion.", "I and my son Solomon shall be accounted offenders. — I Kings i.", "2. To account of, to hold in esteem; to value.", "Silver was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon. — I Kings x.", "3. To reckon, or compute; as, the motion of the sun whereby as are accounted; also, to assign as a debt; as, a project accounted to his service; but these uses are another.", "AE-COUNT', v. i. To render an account or relation of particulars. An officer must account with or to the treasurer for money received.", "2. To give reasons; to assign the causes; to explain; with for; as, idleness accounted for poverty.", "3. To render reasons; to answer for in a responsible character; as, we must *account for* all the talents intrusted to us.", "4. To render reasons; to assign the causes; to explain; with for; as, idleness accounted for poverty.", "5. To render reasons; to answer for in a responsible character; as, we must *account for* all the talents intrusted to us.", "6. To render reasons; to assign the causes; to explain; with for; as, idleness accounted for poverty.", "7. To render reasons; to answer for in a responsible character; as, we must *account for* all the talents intrusted to us.", "liable to answer for one's conduct; liability to give account, and to receive reward or punishment for actions.", "The awful idleness of accountability. — R. Hell.", "2. Liability to the payment of money or of damages; responsibility for a trust.", "AE-COUNT'-ABLE, a. Liable to be called to account; answerable to a superior; as every man is accountable to God for his conduct.", "2. Subject to pay, or make good, in case of loss.", "A sherif is *accountable*, as bailiff and receiver of goods. *Accountable for*, that may be explained. [Not elegant.]", "AE-COUNT'-ABLE-NESS, n. Liability to answer or to give account; liable to pay answerable or accountable to God for money or damages.", "AE-COUNT'-ABLE, adv. In an accountable manner.", "AE-COUNT'ANT, n. One skilled in mercantile accounts; more generally, a person who keeps accounts; an officer in a public office who has charge of the accounts. In Great Britain, an officer in the Court of Chancery who receives, the money paid into the account and depoits it in the Bank, is called *account-grantor*.", "AE-COUNT'-ANT-SHIP, n. The office or employment of an accountant.", "AE-COUNT'-BQQK, n. A book in which accounts are kept.", "AE-COUNT'ED, pp. Esteemed; deemed; considered; regarded as valued.", "Accompted for; explained. AE-COUNT'ING, ppr. Deeming; esteeming; reckoning; rendering an account.", "Accounting for; rendering an account; assigning the reasons; unfolding the causes.", "AE-COUNT'ING, n. The act of reckoning or adjusting accounts.", "AE-COUNT', v. t. (ac-cup/p) v. t. To couple; to join or link together. [See *Couple*.]", "AE-COUP-LE-MENT, (ac-cup-ple-ment.) n. A coupling; a connecting in pairs; junction. [Little used.]", "AE-COUP'AGE, (ac-curage,) v. t. [See *Courage*.]", "To encourage. [Not used.] Spenser.", "AE-COUP'T, v. t. [See *Couple*.] To entangle with counter. [Not used.] Spenser.", "AE-COUP'T, n. (ac-coot'er,) v. t. [Fr. accouter; from Norm. coste, a coat, *coster*, a rich cloth or vestment for festivals. I think this to be the true origin of the word, rather than *coudre*, *couture*, *couturier*.]", "In a general sense, to dress; to equip; but appropriately, to array in a military dress; to put on, or to furnish with a military dress and arms; to equip the body for military service.", "AE-COUP'ER-ED, pp. Dressed in arms; equipped. *Beattie.*", "AE-COUP'ER-ING, ppr. Equipping with military habiliments.", "AE-COUP'ER-MENTS, } n. pl. Dress; equipage; AE-COUP'ER-TMENTS, } furniture for the body; appropriately, military dress and arms; equipage for military service.", "2. In common usage, an old or unusual dress.", "AE-COY', v. t. [old Fr. *accoisir*.]", "To render quite or difficult; to soothe; to care. [Obs.] Spenser.", "AE-CRED/IT, v. t. [Fr. *accrediter*; Sp. *accrediter*; It. *accrediter*; to give authority or reputation; from L. ad and credo, to believe, or give faith to. *See Credit.*", "To give credit, authority, or reputation; to *accred*-it an envoy, is to receive him in his public character, and give him credit and rank accordingly.", "AE-CRED'IT-ATION, n. That which gives title to credit. *Little used.*", "AE-CRED'IT-ED, pp. or a. Allowed; received with reputation; authorized in a public character. *Christ. Obs.*", "AE-CRED'IT-ING, ppr. Giving authority or reputation. AE-CRES'CENT, a. [See *Accretion*.] Increasing. *Shuckford.*", "AE-CRE'TION, n. [L. *acretio*, increase; *acresco*, to increase, literally, to grow to; ad and cresco; Eng. *accuse*; Fr. *acroître*. See *Increase*, *Accrue*, *Grow*.]", "1. A growing to; an increase by natural growth; applied to the increase of organic bodies by the accession of parts. *Arbutnus.*", "2. An increase by an accession of parts externally. *Eccles.*", "3. In the civil law, the adhering of property to something else, by which the owner of one thing becomes possessed of a right to another; as, when a legacy is left to two persons, and one of them dies before the testator, the legacy devolves to the survivor by right of accretion. *Eccles.*", "AE-CRIM-INA'TION, n. Accusation. AE-CRE'TIVE, a. Increasing by growth; growing; adding to by growth; as, the accretive motion of plants.", "AE-CRACH', v. i. [Fr. *acrocher*, to fix on a hook; from *croc*, *crochet*, a hook, from the same elements as *crook*, which see.]", "", "1. To hook, or draw to, as with a hook; but in this sense not used.", "2. To enroch; to draw away from another. Hence, in old laws, to assume the exercise of royal prerogatives. The noun *acroachment*, an encroachment, or attempt to exercise royal power, is rarely or never used. [See *Engroach*.]", "AE-CRUE', (ac-ru') v. i. [Fr. *acroître*, *accru*, to increase; L. *accreSCO*, *cresco*; Sp. *crecer*; *acreccer*; It. *crescere*, *accrescere*: Port. *crecer*; Arm. *cresi*.", "3. Literally, to grow to; hence, to arise, proceed or come; to be added, as increase, profit, or

["ACQ", "ACR", "ACR", "2. In *medicine*, this term is sometimes used for remedies for deafness, or imperfect hearing.", "Quincy.", "AC-QUINT', v. t. [Old Fr. *acointeur*, to make known, whence *acquaintance*, acquaintance. Qu.", "Per. لِسَا kunda, knowing, intelligent; Ger. *kunde*, knowledge; *kund*, known, public; *L. kond* or *kunde*, knowledge; *Sw. känd*, known; *Dan. kiende*, to know, to be acquainted with. These words seem to have for their primitive root the Goth. and Sax. *kunnan*, to know, the root of *cunning*; Ger. *kennen*; *L. kunden*, *kan*; Eng. *end* and *ken*; which see.)", "1. To make known; to make fully or intimately known; to make familiar.", "A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.—Isa. liii.", "2. To inform; to communicate notice to; as; a friend in the country *acquaints* me with his success. *Of before the object*—as to *acquaint a man of* this design—has been used, but is obsolete or improper.", "3. To *acquaint one's self*, is to gain an intimate or particular knowledge of.", "*Acquaint* now *thylse* with him, and be at peace. *Job xlix.*", "AC-QUINT'ANCE, n. Familiar knowledge; a state of being acquainted, or of having intimate or personal knowledge; as, I know the man, but have no *acquaintance* with him. Sometimes it denotes a more slight knowledge.", "2. A person or persons well known; usually persons we have been accustomed to see and converse with, but not standing on the more intimate relation of *friendship*.", "Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and my *acquaintance* into darkness. —Ps. lxxxvii.", "*My acquaintances* are estranged from me.—Job xix.", "*Acquaintances* in the plural, is used, as applied to individual persons known; but more generally, *acquaintance* is used for one or more.", "*Acquaintant*, in like sense, is not used.", "AC-QUINT'ANCE-SHIP, n. State of being acquainted, known.", "Chalmers.", "AC-QUINT'ED, pp. Known; familiarly known; informed; having personal knowledge.", "AC-QUINT'ING, ppr. Making known to; giving notice or information to.", "AC-QUEST', n. [L. *acquisitus*, *acquiro*.]", "1. *Acquition*, the thing gained.", "2. *Conquest*, a place acquired by force. *Bacon.*", "AC-QUESCCE, (ac-qui-ess') v. i. [L. *acquisito*, of ad and *quisco*, to be quiet; *quiè*, rest; Fr. *acquiescer*.", "1. To rest satisfied, or apparently satisfied, or to rest without opposition and discontent, usually implying previous opposition, uneasiness, or dislike, but ultimate compliance, or submission; as, to *acquiesce* in the dispensations of Providence.", "2. To assent to, upon conviction; as, to *acquiesce* in an opinion; that; it is, to rest satisfied of its correctness, or propriety.", "*Acquiesced* in; in a passive sense complied with; submitted to, without opposition; as, a measure has been *acquiesced* in.", "AC-QUESCECE, n. A quiet assent; a silent submission, or submission with apparent content; distinguished from avowed consent on the one hand, and on the other, from opposition or open dissent; as, an *acquiescence* in the decisions of a court, or in the allotments of Providence.", "AC-QUI-ES'CENT, a. Resting content; easy; subjecting; disposed to submit.", "AC-QUI-ES'ING, ppr. Quietly submitting; resting content.", "AC-QUI-A-BILT-TY, n. State of being *acquitable*.", "Paley.", "AC-QUIR-A-BLE, a. That may be acquired.", "AC-QUIRE', v. t. [L. *acquiro*, *ad* and *quæro*, to seek, that is, to follow, to press, to urge; *acquiro* signifies to pursue to the end or object; Fr. *acquirir*; Sp.", "AC-QUIRE', v. t. [L. *acquiro*, *ad* and *quæro*, to seek, that is, to follow, to press, to urge; *acquiro* signifies to pursue to the end or object; Fr. *acquirir*; Sp.", "adquirir; Ar. لَّقَا kara; Heb. *לְקַד* to seek, to make toward, to follow. The L. *quisivi*, unless contracted, is probably from a different root. See Class Gr. and Gs.)", "To gain, by any means, something which is in a degree permanent, or which becomes vested or inherent in the possessor; as, to *acquiro* a title, estate, learning, habits, skill, dominion, &c. Plants *acquire* a green color from the solar rays. A mere temporary possession is not expressed by *acquire*, but by gain, *obtain*, *procure*; to, *obtain* [not *acquire*] a book on loan.", "Descent is the title whereby a man, on the death of his ancestor, *acquiro* his estate, by right of representation, obtained as his heir at law.\n\nBlackstone.", "AC-QUIR-ED, pp. or. Gained, or received from art, labor, or other means, in distinction from those things which are bestowed by nature.", "It says we, abilities, natural and *acquired*. It implies title, or some permanence of possession.", "AC-QUIRE'TANCE, n. The act of acquiring, or that which is acquired; attainment. It is used in opposition to natural gifts; as, eloquence, and skill in music and painting, are *acquisitions*; genius, the gift of nature. It denotes especially personal attainments, in opposition to material or external things gained, which are more usually called *acquisitions*; but this distinction is not always observed.", "AC-QUI'ER, n. A person who acquires.", "AC-QUI'ING, n. Acquirement.", "AC-QUI'ING, ppr. Gaining, by labor or other means, something that has a degree of permanence in the possessor.", "AC-QUI'RY, n. Acquirement. [Not used.] *Barrow.*", "AC-QUIS-ITE, a. Gained. [Not used.] *Burton.*", "AC-QUI-SI'TION, n. [L. *acquisitio*, from *acquisitus*, *acquiesivi*, which are given as the part and pret. of *acquiro*; but *quesivi* is probably from a different root; W. *ceisiao*; Eth. ἀμμμα chas, chas; Ar. *u*.", "قَوْسٌ kassa, to seek. Class Gs.)", "1. The act of acquiring; as, a man takes pleasure in the *acquisition* of property, as well as in the possession.", "2. The thing acquired, or gained; as, learning is an *acquisition*. It is used for intellectual attainments, as well for external things, property or dominion; and in a good sense, denoting something estimable.", "AC-QUIS'-I-TIVE, a. That is acquired; acquired; [but improper.] *Wotton.*", "AC-QUIS'-I-TIVE-LY, adv. Noting acquisitiveness. A word is said to be used *acquisitively*, when it is used with *to* or for following.", "Lilly's *Grammar*.", "AC-QUIS'-I-TIVE-NESS, n. Desire of possession; propensity to acquire.", "AC-QUIS'-I, n. See *Acquist*. [Not used.] *Milton.*", "AC-QUI', v. t. [Fr. *acquitter*; W. *gadu*, *gadau*; L. *ceda*; Arm. *kitat*, or *qayttaat*, to leave, or forsake; Fr. *quitter*, or *quittera*, to emit, or to emit and leave; D. *kwytten*; Ger. *quitieren*.", "To set free; to release or discharge from an obligation, accusation, guilt, censure, suspension, or whatever lies upon a person as a charge or duty; as, the jury *acquitted* the prisoner; we *acquit* a man of evil intentions. It is used for the purpose of a proper sense as, the soldier *acquitted* himself well in battle, the word has a like sense, implying the discharge of a duty or obligation. Hence its use in expressing excellence in performance; as, the orator *acquitted* himself well, that is, in a manner that his situation, and public expectation, demanded.", "AC-QUI-MENT, n. The act of acquiring, or state of being acquired.", "[This word is superseded by *Accuittal*.]", "AC-QUI'TAL, n. A judicial setting free, or delivery from the charge of an offense, as by verdict of a jury, or sentence of a court; as, the *acquittal* of a principal operates as an *acquittal* of the *acquises*.", "AC-QUI'TANCE, n. A discharge or release from a debt.", "2. The writing, which is evidence of a discharge; a receipt in full, which bars a further demand.", "AC-QUI'TANCE, v. t. To acquit. [Obs.] *Shak.*", "AC-QUI'TED, pp. Set free, or judicially discharged from an accusation; released from a debt, duty, or obligation.", "AC-QUI'TING, ppr. Setting free from accusation; releasing from a charge, obligation, or suspension of guilt.", "A-ÇRÂSE', v. t. To make crazy; to infatuate.", "A-ÇRÂZE', n. [See *CRAZY*.]", "2. To impair; to destroy. [Not in use.]", "A-ÇRA'T-AN, n. A charge, from a priv. and *kraçais*, constitution or temperature.", "1. In medical authors, an excess or predominance of one quality above another, in mixture, or in the human constitution.", "2. Excess; irregularity.", "A'ÇRE', (a'ker') n. [Sax. *acera*, *acera*; or *acer*; Ger. *acker*; D. *acker*; Dan. *acker*; Ir. *acra*; Ice. *akr*; Pers. *akkār*; Gr. *ayios*; Lat. *ager*. In these languages, the word retains its primitive sense, an open, plowed, or sowed field. In English, it retained its original signification, that of any open field, until it was limited to a definite quantity by statutes 31 Ed. Ill. 5 Ed. I. 24 H. VIII. *Conel*. A. *conel*.", "2. In the Mogul's dominions, *acra* is the same as lac, or 100,000 rupees, equal to £12,500 sterling, or 55,300 dollars.", "Acre-fight; a sort of duel in the open field, formerly", "fought by English and Scotch combatants on their frontiers.", "Acre-tax; a tax on land in England, at a certain sum for each acre, called also acre-shot.", "A'ÇRED, a. Possessing acres or landed property.", "Fope.", "AC-RI'D, a. [Fr. *acre*; L. *acër*.]", "Sharp; pungent; bitter; sharp or biting to the taste; acrimonious; as, *acrid* salts.", "AC-RI'D-NESS, n. A sharp, bitter, pungent quality.", "AC-RI-MŌ'NI-OUS, a. Sharp; bitter; corrosive; abounding with acrimony.", "2. *Figuratively*, severe; sarcastic; applied to language or temperature; like *head*, *hood*, in *knit-hood*; in which case it may be from the same root as *maneo*, Gr. μνω.", "AC-RI-SY

["ACT", "This, and the preceding word, are especially used\nby the English malsters.", "A-CROSS', (a-kuars') prep. [a and cross. See Cross.]", "1. From side to side, opposed to *along*, which is\nin the direction of the length; atھward; quite over;\nas, a bridge is laid *across* a river.", "2. Intersecting; passing over at any angle; as, a\nline passing *across* another.", "A-CROS'TIC, n. [Gr. ακρα, extremity or beginning,\nαστικός, order or verse.]", "3. A composition in verse, in which the first letters of\nthe lines, taken in order, form the name of a per-\nson, kingdom, city, &c., which is the subject of the\ncomposition, or some title or motto.", "A-CROS'TIC, a. That relates to, or contains an\nacrostic.", "A-CROS'TIC-AL-LY, adv. In the manner of an\nacrostic.", "A-CRO'TE-LEU'TIC, n. [Gr. ακροῦ, extreme, and\nτελευτή, end.]", "Among * ecclesiastical writers*, an appeal given\nto any thing added to the end of a psalm or hymn;\nas a doxology.", "A-CRO'TER, n.", "A-CRO'TE'RA, n. pl. [Gr. ακροπρ, a summit.]", "In architecture, a term applied to small pediments,\nusually without a base, anciantly placed at the two\nextremes, or in the middle of pieces or fronti-\npieces, serving to support the statues, &c. It also\nsignifies the figures placed as ornaments on the tops\nof churches, and the sharp pinnacles that stand in\nranges about flat buildings with rails and balusters\nof the lines, which are the extremities of the\nbody, as the head, hands, and feet.", "A-CRO'TE'RI-AL, a. Pertaining to the acrotêr, as\nacrotêric ornaments.", "A-CRO'THYM'I-ON, n. [Gr. ακροῦ, extreme, and\nσυφών, thyme.]", "Among physicians, a species of wart, with a nar-\nrow basis and broad top, having the color of thyme.\nIt is called *Celsus*.", "A-CRO'TO-ΜΟΥΣ, a. [Gr. ακρού, top, and συργό, to cut.] In mineralogy, having a cleavage parallel with the top. *Dana*.", "AET, v. i. [Gr. αγω, L. ago, to urge, drive, lead,\nbring, do, perform; or in general, to move, to exert\nforce; Cantabrian, eg, force; W. egni; L. eigan,\nFr. egne; Fr. egnaam, to do or act; acetaim,\nto order; each, ach, deed, act, condi-\ntion; Fr. agir; It. agire, to do or act.]", "1. To exert power; as, the stomach acts upon food; the will acts upon the body in producing motion.", "2. To be in action or motion; to move.", "He hangs between, in doubt to act or rest.", "Pope.", "3. To behave, demean, or conduct, as in morals, private duties, or public offices; as, we know not why a minister has acted in this manner. But in this sense, it is most frequent in popular language; as, how the man acts or has acted.", "To act *up to*, is to equal in action; as, he has acted up to his engagement or his advantages.", "A-CET, v. t. To perform; to represent a character on the stage.", "Aet your part; there all the honor lies.", "Pope.", "2. To feign or counterfeit. [Obs. or improper.]\nWith acted fear the villain thus pursued.", "Drynæl.", "3. To put in motion; to actuate; to regulate\nmovements.", "Most people in the world are *acted by levet*. South. Locke.", "[In this latter sense obsolete, and superseded by\n*ACTUATE*, which see.]", "AET, n. The exertion of power; the effect, of which\npower exerted is the cause; as, the act of giving or\nreceiving", "In this sense, it denotes an operation of the mind.\nThus, to discern is an *act* of the understanding; to\njudge is an *act* of the will.", "2. That which is done; a deed, exploit, or achieve-\nment, whether good or ill.", "AET, his miracles and his acts which he did in the midst of\nEgypt. —Deut. xi.", "3. Action; performance; production of effects; as, an *act* of charity. *But this sense is closely allied to the foregoing.*", "4. A state of reality or real existence, as opposed\nto a possibility.", "The seeds of plants are not at first in *act*, but in possibility, what they afterward grow to be.", "5. In general, *act* denotes *actuation completed*; but *but* precedes *act*.", "She was taken in the *act*. —John viii.", "In *act* is used also to signify incipient action, or\na state of preparation to exert power; as, \"In act to\nstrike,\" a *poetical use*.", "6. A part or division of a play to be performed\nwithout interruption; after which the action is sus-\npended to give respect to the performers. *Acts are\ndivided into smaller portions, called scenes.*", "ACT", "7. The result of public deliberation, or the deci-\nsion of a prince, legislative body, council, court of\njustice, or the legislative body; a decree, edict, law, judg-\nment, resolve, award, determination; as, an *act of\nparliament, or of congress*. The term is also trans-\nferred to the book, record, or writing, containing\nthe laws and determinations. Also, any instru-\nment in writing to verify facts.", "In the sense of *agency*, or power to produce effects,\nas in the passage cited by Johnson from Shakspeare,\nthe use is improper.", "To try the vigor of them, and apply\nAllayments to their *act*.", "Act, in English universities, is a thesis maintained\nin public, by a candidate for a degree, or to show the\nproficiency of a student. At Oxford, the time when\nmasters and doctors complete their degrees is also\ncalled the *act*, which is held with great solemnity.\nAt Cambridge, as in the United States, it is called\n*Encyc*.", "Act of faith, (auto da fê,) in Roman Catholic countries, is a solemn day held by the Inquisition for the punishment of heretics, and the absorption of accused persons found innocent; or it is the sentence of the Inquisition.", "Acts of the Apostles; the title of a book in the New\nTestament containing a history of the transactions\nof the apostles.", "Acts of Sederunt; in *Scots law*, statutes made by the\nlords of session, sitting in judgment, by virtue of a\nScottish act of parliament, (1540,) empowering them\nto make such constitutions or regulations as they\nmay think expedient for ordering the procedure and\nforms of administration, just as they please.", "Acta Diurna, among the Romans, a sort of gazette,", "containing an authorized account of transactions in\nRome, nearly similar to our newspapers.", "Acta Populi, or *Acta Publica*; the Roman registers\nof assemblies, trials, executions, buildings, births,\nmarriages, and deaths of illustrious persons, &c.", "Acta Sanctorum, the lives and reputed miracles of\nRoman saints.", "Acta Senatus; minutes of what passed in the Ro-\nman public, called also *Commentarii*, commentaries.", "AET'D, pp. Done; performed; represented on the\nstage.", "AET'TAN, a. Relating to Actium, a town and prom-\nontory of Epiros; as *Actian*, a town, which was\ninstituted by Augustus, to celebrate his naval victory\nunder Anthony, near that town, Sept. 2, B. C. 31.\nThey were celebrated every five years. —Encyc.", "AET'ING, ppr. or a. Doing; performing; behaving;\nrepresenting the character of another.", "AET'ING, n. Action of performing a part of a\nplay.", "AET'TIN'-A, n. [L. from Gr. ακτιν, a, ray.] A genus\nof Acalepha, having a circle of tentacles or rays\naround the mouth; including the animal flowers or\nsea-anemones.", "AET'TIN'I-FORM, a. [Gr. ακτιν, a ray, and Lat.\nforma, form.] Having a radiated form.", "AET'TIN'-O-LITE, n. [Gr. ακτιν, a ray, and λαθος,\na stone.] The bright green variety of hombledd, occurring usually in glassy prismatic crystals, and also fibrous.", "AET'TIN'-O-LITIC, a. Like or pertaining to *actile*-\nactin. —Dana.", "AET'TIN'-O-LITIC, a. Like or pertaining to *actile*-\nactin. —Dana.", "AET'TIN'-OM'E-TER, n. [Gr. ακτιν, a ray, and\nμεροι, measure.]", "An instrument for measuring the intensity of solar\nradiation.", "AET'ION, n. [L. *actio*. See *Act*.]", "1. Literally, a driving; hence, the state of acting or moving; exertion of power or force, as when one body acts on another; or *action* is the effect of power, exerted on one body by another; motion produced, by Hence, action is opposed to *Shak*. —Act. When produced by one body on another, is *mechanical*; when produced by the will of a living being, *spontaneous* or *voluntary*. [See Def. 3.]", "2. An act or thing done; a deed.", "The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him are *actions* weighed. —1 Sam. ii.", "3. In *mechanics*, agency; operation; driving impulse; effort of one body upon another; as, the action of wind upon a ship's sails; also, the effect of such action.", "4. In *ethics*, the external signs or expression of the\nsentiments of a moral agent; conduct; behavior;\ndemotion; that is, motion or movement, with respect\nto a rule or episode. —Encyc.", "5. In *poetry*, a series of events, called also the\nsubject or failure: this is of two kinds; the principal\naction, which is more strictly the fable, and the in-\ncident; that is, motion or movement, with respect\nto the subject, or to the thoughts and feelings of\nthe mind.", "6. In *oratory*, gesture or gestulation; the ex-\nternal deportment of the speaker, or the accommo-\ndation of his attitude, voice, gestures, and counte-\nnance, to the subject, or to the thoughts and feelings\nof the mind.", "7. In *physiology*, the motions or functions of the\n*Encyc*.", "body, vital, animal, and natural; *vital* and involv-\nuntary, as the action of the heart and lungs; *animal*,\nas muscular, and all voluntary motions; *natural*,\nas manducation, degradation, and digestion. —Encyc.", "8. In *law*, literally, an urging for right; a suit or\nprocess, by which a demand is made of a right; a\nclaim made before a tribunal. *Actions are real,\npersonal, or mixed; real, or feudal, when the demand-\nant claims a title to real estate; personal, when a\nman demands a debt, personal duty, or damages in\nlieu of it, or satisfaction for an injury person or\nproperty; and mixed, when real estate is demanded,\nwith damages for a wrong sustained. Actions are\nalso civil or penal; civil, when instituted solely in\nbehalf of private persons; and feudal, when debts\nare imposed by way of punishment. The word is also\nused for a right of action; as, the law gives an *action*\nfor each claim.", "Blackstone.", "A chose in *action*, is a right to a thing in opposi-\ntion to the possession. A bond or note is a *chose in\naction*, [Fr. chose, a thing,] and gives rise to a right\nto procure the money, as he has a right to an absolute\nproperty in a right, as well as in a *thing*, in possession.", "9. In some countries of Europe, especially France,\n*action* is a share in the capital stock of a joint-stock\ncompany, or in the public funds, equivalent to our\nterm *share*; and consequently, in a more general\nsense, in the public funds, or in

RECOMMENDATIONS CONTINUED.

Rev. Nathaniel W. Taylor, S. T. D., *Professor of Didactic Theology, Yale College*.

James L. Kingsley, A. M., *Professor of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, Yale College*.

Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D.

Denison Olmsted, *Professor of Mathematics, and Natural Philosophy, Yale College*.

Leonard Woods, *Professor of Christian Theology, Theological Seminary, Andover*.

Moses Stuart, *Professor of Sacred Literature, &c., Andover*.

Ralph Emerson, *Brown Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Andover*.

L. Ives Hoadley, *Assistant Teacher of Sacred Rhetoric, Andover*.

In the preceding recommendation of the American Dictionary, &c., signed by Dr. Day, and others, we cheerfully concur.

Joshua Bates, D. D., *President of Middlebury College*.

Rev. John Hough, *Professor of Languages*.

Edward Turner, *Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, Middlebury College*.

"As far as I am capable of judging, I consider Dr. Webster's Dictionary as a most valuable work, and eminently deserving of public patronage."

JOHN HENRY HOBART,
*Bishop of Prut. Epis. Church, N. Y.*

"I cheerfully concur in the opinion that they (the octavo Dictionary) form a very valuable addition to our lexicography, and deserve the patronage of the American people."

JOSEPH STORY, L L D, Judge
U. S. Supreme Ct., and Prof Law in Cambridge Univ.

"I agree with Mr. Justice Story in the sentiments he has expressed; and am satisfied that an attempt to reduce into a system the doubtful orthography of the language, and to diminish the number of its anomalies, would meet with the approbation of the public, and that no one is better qualified for the task than Dr. Webster."

WILLIAM CRANCH,
Ch. J. Circ. Co. U. S. Dist. Columb.

"We think the American Dictionary unrivalled by any work of the kind in the English language. We also approve of the plan of a series of books for systematic instruction in the English language."

WILBUR FISK, D. D.
Pres. Wes. Univ. Middletown, Con.
WILLIAM MAGOUN, Tutor,

NEW YORK, March,

"The undersigned most cheerfully express their approbation of Dr. Webster's Dictionary, and their wish that it may be generally adopted by literary men as a book of reference, and become the standard lexicon of the colleges, academies, and schools of our country."

David Hosack, LL. D., President of Rutgers Med. Coll.; Rev. Thomas De Witt, D. D.; Rev. John Knox, D. D.; Rev. James Milnor, D. D.; Rev. Jas. M. Matthews, D. D.; John W. Francis, M. D., Prof. Obstet. Rutgers Med. College; Ogden Edwards, Judge of Circuit Court, State of New York; Jacob Radcliffe, late Mayor of New York, and Judge of Sup. Court; James Tallmadge, late Lieut. Governor of State of New York; Samuel D. Knapp, Coun. at Law, and author of Lectures on American Literature; Seth P. Staples, Coun. at Law; Rev. William Patton, D. D.; Ansel W. Ives, M. D.; George Griffin, Coun. at Law; Rev. Gardiner Spring, D. D.; Samuel L. Mitchell, L. L. D.; Joseph M. Smith, M. D. Prof. of Theo. and Prac. Med.; Anthony Dey, Coun. at Law; William Johnson, Counselor at law, Reporter of Cases, &c.; John Anthon, Counselor at Law; Valentine Mott, M. D.; Alexander H. Stevens, M. D. Professor of Surg.

"We make Dr. Webster's Dictionary our general Standard of orthography, and would cordially recommend its adoption in schools and seminaries of learning."

Rev. Austin Dickinson, Editor of the National Preacher; Wm. L. Stone, Francis Hall, and Robert C. Sands, Editors of the N. Y. Spectator and Commercial Advertiser; Sidney E. Morse, Editor of N. York Observer; Gerard Hallock, Editor of the Journal of Commerce; Amos Butler, Editor of the Mercantile Advertiser; John Lang, Editor of the New York Gazette; Michael Burnham, Editor of the Evening Post; Absalom Peters, Editor of the Home Missionary and American Pastor's Journal; William C. Brownlee, Editor of the Magazine of the Reformed Dutch Church; Edward Thompson, Editor of the Evening Journal."

"The undersigned entertains a great respect for the 'American Dictionary' of Noah Webster, LL. D. He regards it as, in several respects, superior to any preceding Dictionary of the English language, and as well worthy of general patronage."

PRINCETON, April 24. SAMUEL MILLER.

"I have examined the venerable Noah Webster's Quarto Lexicon, and tender with pleasure the homage of my unqualified approbation of this stupendous effort of human industry and learned research. This book is certainly entitled to a decided precedence over all other Dictionaries that have been heretofore published."

MAYSVILLE, Ken., May 13.

RICHARD HENRY LEE.

BRITISH NOTICES.

The following is from the Liverpool Mercury of May 29th:

*Best English Dictionary.*

"By far the best English Dictionary—indeed the only one to which appeal can now be made as an authority—is Webster's: an American publication, republished in London, in two quarto volumes. JAMES MARTINEAU."

Professor JAMESON of Edinburgh has remarked, that "the American Dictionary of Dr. Webster is as great an improvement on Johnson's Dictionary, as the latter was on those of his predecessors."

"We are happy to announce the reprint of Dr. Webster's incomparable English Dictionary. When it is as well known in Britain as it is in America, it will supersede every other book in the same department of letters. Indeed its excellence is obvious and indisputable. It contains definitions of technical and scientific terms, according to the present principles of art and science. In this important respect it is distinguished from Todd's Johnson, in which thousands of such terms are either not inserted, or are explained on exploded principles."—Cambridge Independent Press.

"The best and most useful Dictionary of the English language."—*Examiner*.

"This Dictionary is decidedly one of the most valuable and important works at present in the course of publication. No library can be considered complete without it."—*Bristol Journal*.

"We repeat our opinion, that it is the most copious, accurate, and scientific Dictionary of our language, which has hitherto been compiled."—*Aberdeen Journal*.

"This publication will go far to remove the unjust prejudices which prevail in this country against the literature of the Americans."—*Aberdeen Observer*.

"According to our ideas, the nearest approximation to a perfect Dictionary of the language, which we have ever seen."—*Aberdeen Chron*.

"Dr. Webster is a great and distinguished etymologist; his researches are profound, and the field of his inquiries is so extensive as to embrace within its compass no less than twenty languages."—*London Atlas*.

The following beautiful enlage on Noah Webster, Esq., is from the Anniversary address delivered before the Connecticut Alpha of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, at their late anniversary, by Chancellor Kent of New York:

"For nearly half a century, amidst obstacles and toils, disappointments and infirmities," he has nobly sustained his courage; and by means of his extraordinary skill and industry in the investigation of languages, he will transmit his name to the latest posterity. It will dwell on the tongues of infants, as soon as they have learned to lisp their earliest lessons. It will be stamped on our American literature, and be carried with it over every part of this mighty continent. It will be honored by three hundred millions of people—for that is the number which, it is computed, will, in some future age, occupy the wide space of territory stretching from the torrid to the arctic regions. The American Dictionary of the English Language is a work of profound investigation, and does infinite honor to the philosophical learning and general literature of this country. Happy the man who can thus honorably identify his name with the existence of our vernacular tongue. There is no other way in which mortal man could more effectually secure immortality beneath the skies. Obelisks, arches, and triumphal monuments, seem to be as transient as the bubble of military reputation. No work of art can withstand the incessant strokes of Time. The unrivalled Parthenon, glowing in polished marble, and which, for more than two thousand years continued from the summit of the citadel of Athens to cast its broad splendors across the plains below, and along the coast and headlands of Attica, is now crumbling to ruins, after being despoiled of its most exquisite materials by savage war and heartless man. Even the Pyramids of Egypt, whose origin is hidden in the deepest recesses of antiquity, and which have always stood in awe-inspiring solitùty and grandeur, are now annoyed by the depredations of curiosity, and greatly corroded by the action of the elements, and gradually sinking under the encroaching sands of the desert. This dictionary, and the language which it embodies, will also perish; but it will not be with the gorgeous palaces. It will go with the solemn temples and the great globe itself."

PROSPECTUS
OF
WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY.

THE ENTIRE WORK UNABRIDGED, IN ONE VOL. CROWN QUARTO.

IN announcing a new edition of WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY, the Publishers beg leave to state concisely
the improvements and advantages of the revised edition.—

I. It comprises the entire matter of the first American Edition in 2 vols. Quarto, together with several thousand additional words, and the corrections and improvements added by Dr. Webster to the edition in 2 vols. Royal 8vo, published in 1841, and the words published in the Addenda prepared by him, and published just before his death in 1843.

II. The entire work has been thoroughly revised by PROFESSOR CHAUNCEY A. GOODRICH, of Yale College, New Haven, who will have been employed from two to three years upon the revision, assisted by several competent distinguished literary gentlemen, and will include—

1. A careful revision of the definitions of Dr. Webster. This has been deemed advisable, although Dr. Webster's definitions are admitted to be more full, extensive, clear and accurate, than those of any previous English lexicographer; yet in a work of this kind, prepared by any one person, there would be found, almost necessarily, some omissions and inaccuracies. So, also, in the progressive advancement of the Sciences, the Arts, and almost every department of human knowledge, new or different meanings have come to attach to words, from those formerly employed.

2. Several thousand new words have been added, embracing scientific terms, words employed by modern popular writers, colloquial words and phrases, words having become Anglicised from foreign languages, &c. &c. Great care has been taken in the selection of these, in the scientific department especially, by a careful consultation of the best and most recent authorities.

3. The KEY TO THE PRONUNCIATION is inserted at the bottom of every page, for immediate and easy reference; the words more extensively marked, and the difficult words re-spelled, so as to make it more fully a popular PRONOUNCING DICTIONARY.

4. While Dr. Webster's system has been maintained throughout, to which the popular usage has so extensively given, and is yet more fully giving, its sanction, yet with regard to particular words, to which Dr. Webster gave two modes of spelling—the popular one, and another, which from analogy, and the derivation of the word, he thought preferable—the Editor gives only the present popular orthography, when the best usage appears to sanction this mode. Thus whatever of valid objection may have existed with reference to former editions, is now obviated.

### III. Carefully prepared Tables have been added, giving the Pronunciation of—

1. Greek and Latin Proper Names.

2. Scripture Proper Names. [This Table by one of the most distinguished Biblical scholars in the country.]

3. Geographical Names. This List contains from 3000 to 4000 names of modern Countries, Cities, Towns, Rivers, Mountains, &c.

### IV. A Memoir of Dr. Webster.

No reasonable pains or expense has been spared to make the present edition full and accurate in every respect, and worthy the entire confidence of the literary public. In the scientific department, especially, the words and definitions in each particular branch, have been submitted to literary gentlemen more particularly conversant with that department, as in Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Astronomy, Mathematics, Church History, &c. &c.

So also especial pains have been taken to learn the best established usage, in respect to Orthography, Pronunciation, and Definitions, as well in Great Britain as in this country, by correspondence with literary gentlemen at home and abroad; and a gentleman connected with the Faculty of Yale College, visiting England and spending some time there, has been furnished with Lists of Words, in order to learn by personal observation and consultation the most approved English usage.

'The Publishers cannot doubt that the improvements of the present edition, together with the very low price to which they have reduced it, will secure for the work an extended sale, and maintain the position which it has already taken, that of the standard work, both in this country and in Great Britain.

Containing two to three times the amount of matter in any other English Dictionary ever compiled in this country, the publishers do not consider it assumption to pronounce it the most full, perfect, and cheapest work of the kind ever offered the public.

The Work will contain between 1400 and 1500 pages, and will be handsomely got up, on entirely new type, good paper, substantially bound, and the price not to exceed $6. It is now in active progress, and will appear as early as practicable the coming season.

The first edition, in 2 volumes quarto, sold at $20. The second in 2 volumes 8vo., at $13.50, and the work will now be reduced to less than one third the original price.

Springfield Mass, Oct. 1846.

G. & C. MERRIAM.

["WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY", "SENTIMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS.", "WE, the undersigned, regard WEBSTER as \"The great American Philologist, the most learned and devoted scholar in his special department that the English language knows,\" and recognize his UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY as the standard authority in all questions of English Lexicology. His system of pronunciation is simple and correct, his principles of Orthography we cordially approve as analogical, and most in accordance with the laws and tendencies of the language, and for definitions he has no rival.", "THE QUARTO ACADEMIC ABRIDGMENT of this work, prepared for the convenient use of schools as a hand book, is admirably adapted for that purpose. So far as it is possible, it embodies all the excellencies of the larger work, and as a convenient hand book we cheerfully recommend it as preferable to any other work of the kind before the public. It deserves to find its way into very general use in all the schools in our land.", "JUNE, 1856.", "JOHN BASCOM, Professor Rhetoric, Williams College.", "ISAAC N. LINCOLN, Professor Latin, &c., Williams College.", "ARTHUR T. PERRY, Professor History, &c., Williams College.", "JOHN TATLOCK, Professor Mathematics and Lib'n, Williams College.", "JOSEPH HAVEN, Prof. Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, Amherst College.", "E. S. SNELL, Prof. Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, Amherst College.", "H. O. C. N. Principal Mt. Pleasant Institute, Amherst.", "J. M. GREENE, Tufts Amherst College.", "M. RAYMOND, Principal Wilbraham Academy.", "J. R. DAYENPORT, Principal Hopkins Academy, Hadley.", "J. WARREN HEALY, Principal Topsfield Academy.", "JAMES H. DAVIS, Principal of Academy, Amesbury.", "WILLIAM C. GOLTHWAIT, late Principal Westfield Academy.", "J. J. LADD, Principal Warren Academy, Woburn.", "J. A. DOUGLASS, Marblehead, Principal of Academy.", "DANIEL KIMBALL, Principal Williams Academy, Stockbridge.", "J. W. P. JENKS, Principal of Pierce Academy, Middleboro'.", "J. W. SPAULDING, Principal Myrickville Academy, Taunton.", "FREDERICK CRAFTS, Principal Bridgewater Academy.", "L. B. HANAFORD, Principal Mercantile Academy, Winter Street, Boston.", "J. L. READ, Principal Leicester Academy.", "CHARLES HAMMOND, Principal Lawrence Academy, Groton.", "J. W. HUNT, Principal of Crystal Lake Seminary, Newton Center.", "JAMES TUFTS, A. M., Principal Monson Academy.", "HENRY D. NORTHROP, Principal Amherst Academy.", "SANFORD LAWTON, late Principal Dudley Academy.", "L. E. SHEPARD, Principal Westford Academy.", "N. M. BELDEN, Principal Punchard Free School, Andover.", "MARIA J. DOWNS, Principal Abbott Female Academy, Andover.", "J. B. PEARSON, Principal High School, Fall River.", "SAMUEL S. WILSON, Principal Grammar School, Charlestown.", "WILLIAM H. SANDERS, Principal B. H. Grammar School, Charlestown.", "NATHANIEL HILLS, Principal Danvers High School.", "W. S. LADD, Principal Danversport High School.", "JOHN W. COLCORD, Principal Peabody High School, South Danvers.", "E. P. BATES, Principal Abington High School.", "C. E. BRADFORD, Principal French's Seminary, Waltham.", "A. H. CORNISH, Principal of Grammar School, Plymouth.", "A. P. STONE, Principal of Plymouth High School.", "BENJAMIN STANTON, Principal of Boys' High School, Newburyport.", "HENRY BIGELOW, M. D., Chairman School Committee, Newton.", "L. WALKER, Principal High School, Somerville.", "L. P. FROST, Principal High School, Waltham.", "D. FRENCH, Principal French's Seminary, Waltham.", "GEORGE W. FROST, Principal Grammar School, Waltham.", "JOHN C. COLTON, Principal Grammar School, Newton Upper Falls.", "HARRISON LELAND, Principal East Grammar School, Newton Lower Falls.", "EREN WOODWARD, Principal Grammar School, Newtonville.", "STREETER EVANS, Principal Grammar School, Salisbury.", "JOHN L. CILLEY, Principal Grammar School, Salisbury.", "B. P. BYRON, Chairman School Committee, Salisbury.", "E. H. HAMMOND, Principal Center Grammar School, Haverhill.", "J. S. HARADON, Principal West Street Grammar School, Fitchburg.", "H. F. LANE, Principal Day Street School, Fitchburg.", "E. DAVIS, Chairman School Committee, Fitchburg.", "C. B. BINGTON, Principal Grammar School, Greenfield.", "WILLIAM P. HAYWARD, Principal Pickering School, Salem.", "HOMER B. SPRAGUE, Principal High School, Worcester.", "J. S. PHILLIPS, Principal High School, Clinton.", "A. D. WILLIAMS, Superintendent of Schools, Lawrence.", "ADDISON A. HUNT, Principal Sycamore St. Grammar School, Worcester.", "EDWARD STICKNEY, High and Grammar School, Melrose.", "SAMUEL W. KING, Mt. Vernon Grammar School, Lynn.", "HENRY MOORE, Franklin Grammar School, Lynn.", "E. E. BOYNTON, Principal Grammar School, Lynn.", "HENRY L. CHASE, Principal Sycamore St. Grammar School, East Lexington.", "RUFUS C. HARDY, Principal Grammar School, West Cambridge.", "CHARLES E. ABBOTT, Prin. of High and Grammar School, Swampscot.", "WILLARD M. HARRING, Secretary School Committee, Weymouth.", "ALBERT H. MARCHESER, Chairman of the Committee.", "J. C. PARSONS, Principal of High School, Marblehead.", "E. VALENTINE, Principal of Grammar School, Marblehead.", "R. G. GREEN, Principal of Male South Grammar School, Marblehead.", "HENRY H. BABCOCK, Principal Elot School, Newton Corner.", "WILLIAM WEBSTER, Principal of Watertown High School.", "V. H. DEANE, Principal of High School, Newton Center.", "STEPHEN PEABODY, S. Grammar School, Newburyport.", "JAMES BUSHEE, Professor Chemistry, Medical Institution, Worcester.", "OREN S. KNAPP, Principal Grammar School, Somerville.", "JOHN JAMESON, Principal Forster Grammar School, Somerville.", "D. B. WHEELER, Principal Prescott Grammar School, Somerville.", "GEORGE T. LITTLEFIELD, Prin. Franklin Grammar School, Somerville.", "J. C. GREENOUGH, Principal Hacker High School, Salem.", "C. B. METCALF, Principal Thomas School, Worcester.", "A. PARISH, Member of Massachusetts Board of Education.", "C. P. BRONSON, Boston, Professor of Oratory and Rhetoric, and author of", "ALBERT BRONSON's Elocution.", "THOMAS ADAMS, Principal Framingham High School.", "JOSEPH W. BROWN, Principal Private School, Framingham.", "DYER FREEMAN, Jr., Principal Grammar School, Woburn.", "J. W. SANBORN, Principal Grammar School, Danvers.", "L. P. BRICKET, Principal Grammar School, Danvers.", "J. W. P. CARTER, Principal Winchester High School.", "G. S. NEWCOMB, Principal High School, West Newton.", "BENJ. C. PERKINS, Esq., Chairman of School Committee, South Danvers.", "JOHN F. CHASE, Principal Mann School, South Danvers.", "W. W. MITCHELL, Principal High School, Northampton.", "JAMES EMERSON, Principal High School, Pittsfield.", "C. C. CHASE, Principal of Boys' High School, Lowell, subscribes to the first", "section of the above.", "J. KIMBALL, Principal of the Girls' High School, Lowell, subscribes to first section.", "SETH POOLER, Principal Moody School, Lowell.", "AARON WALKER, Jr., Principal Coburn School, Lowell.", "PERLEY BALCH, Principal Edson School, Lowell.", "S. N. MERRILL, Principal Franklin School, Lowell.", "SAMUEL BEMENT, Principal Adams School, Lowell.",

WEBSTER'S DICTIONARIES,

VIZ:

I. WEBSTER'S QUARTO DICTIONARY, UNABRIDGED.
II. WEBSTER'S COUNTING HOUSE DICTIONARY.
III. WEBSTER'S ACADEMIC DICTIONARY.

IV. WEBSTER'S HIGH SCHOOL DICTIONARY.
V. WEBSTER'S PRIMARY DICTIONARY.
VI. WEBSTER'S POCKET DICTIONARY.

EDUCATIONAL SENTIMENT IN WISCONSIN.

THE undersigned, Teachers or friends of Education, recognize in WEBSTER'S UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY a National Standard of Lexicography, and regard it as pre-eminently superior to any other work of the kind in the language.

The System of Orthography and its principles of notation and pronunciation we cordially approve, and as a definer, Webster has no equal.

The SCHOOL ABRIDGMENTS seem well prepared, and intelligently carry out the principles of the large work.

The liberality of the State has provided for placing a copy of Webster's Unabridged in each District School of the Commonwealth,—and we should like to see a copy of one of the Abridgments in the hands of every pupil.

WISCONSIN, 1856.

A. CONSTANTINE BARRY, State Supt. Pub. Instruction.
WM. R. SMITH, Atty. Gen. and Comnr. of School Funds.
M. M. COTHREN, Judge 5th Judicial Circuit Court, Wis.
J. W. WOLCOTT, Of Brockway College.
G. B. COOLEY, Principal Plattville Academy.
J. L. PICKARD, Principal Plattville Academy.
PAUL IRMAN.
H. M. PARMELEE, Town Superintendent, Oak Grove.
R. GLOVER, Town Superintendent, Clyman.
C. B. SKINNER, Superintendent, Watertown City.
V. H. SHUMNEY, Town Supt. of Schools, Berlin.
T. L. BUNKER, Principal of Select School of Omro.
A. PICKETT, Principal of the Union School, Oshkosh.
VALOIS BUTLER, Union School, Kenosha, Wis.
C. K. MARTIN, Principal 4th Ward School, Milwaukee.
G. McWHORTER, Principal 1st Ward School, Milwaukee.
F. C. POMEROY, Principal 3d Ward School, Milwaukee.
O. N. GORTEN, Principal Union School, Janesville.
A. A. GRIFFITH, Principal Waukesha Union School.
E. D. FARNHAM, Principal Delavan Union School.
CALVIN M. PARKS, Prin. Parks' Academy, Geneva, Wis.
LEWIS ROTE, Teacher, Monroe, Wis.
C. WHIPPLE, Superintendent, Menosha.
N. G. HARVEY, Principal of High School, Beaver Dam.

H. C. PIERCE, Principal Union School, Neehah.
D. Y. KILGORE, Prin. Union School and City Supt. Madison.
J. G. MCKINDLEY, Principal High School, Kenosha.
W. C. DUSTIN, Principal High School, Beloit.
A. B. SAVAGE, Principal Fem. Sem., Baraboo.
JAS. H. MAGOFFIN, Principal Fem. Sem., Waukesha.
W. VAN NESS, Principal Union School, Fond Du Lac.
J. B. BACHMAN, Teacher, Monroe.
A. J. CRAIG, former Prin. of 4th Ward School, Milwaukee.
W. C. SANFORD, Prin. Pub. School, Watertown.
J. W. STRONG, City Supt., Beloit.
H. W. COLLINS, City Superintendent, Janesville.
REV. H. FOOTE, Member of School Board, Janesville.
R. C. PARSONS, Prin. Select School, Mineral Point.
H. VAN DUSEN, Supt. Comm. Schools, Mineral Point.
CALVIN WARNER, Town Supt. of Schools, Elk Grove.
GEO. M. LEE, Supt. Comm. Schools, Shullburg.
ALEX. WILSON, A. B., Teacher.
JOHN K. WILLIAMS.
HON. SAMUEL CRAWFORD.
THOMAS S. ALLEN.
RICHARD M. SMITH.
PARLEY EATON.
J. E. MESSMORE, and others.

DEAR SIR:

If your sentiments accord with those expressed above, you are respectfully requested to affix your signature, and forward the circular to

"GET THE BEST"

A NATIONAL STANDARD.

OFFICIAL STATE RECOGNITION.

Nearly every State Superintendent of Public Instruction in the Union, or corresponding officer, where such an one exists, has recommended Webster's Dictionary in the strongest terms. Among them are those of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Louisiana, California, North Carolina, Alabama, Minnesota and also Canada, TWENTY THREE in all.

STATE PURCHASES.

The State of **NEW YORK** has placed **10,000** copies of Webster's Unabridged in as many of her public Schools.

**WISCONSIN, 3300**—nearly every school.

In the year 1850 provision was made by her legislature for supplying the School Districts of the State with Webster's or Worcester's Dictionary. Up to January 1st, 1857 there had been distributed, under that Act, **3214** copies of **Webster**, and **113** copies of **Worcester**.

Since that time **262** additional copies of **Webster's** have been taken. Some of the larger cities and towns have taken as follows, in addition to their previous supplies:

BOSTON, - - - 197 Copies,
NEW BEDFORD, - 35 "
CHELSEA, - - 8 "
NEWBURYPORT, - 7 "
FITCHBURG, - - 6 "

Districts not yet supplied will be furnished by the Secretary of the Board of Education. Annexed is a copy of the form of application, which should be signed by a majority of the School Committee of the town.

As the expense of these books is paid from the Education Fund of the State, School districts fail of doing justice to themselves if they neglect to obtain this bounty from the Commonwealth.

one copy for each of the following schools, viz:

copies of

in accordance with Resolve May 2, 1850, authorizing the Secretary of said Board " to furnish each district and other public school in Commonwealth, except primary schools, a copy of Noah Webster's Unabridged Quarto Dictionary, Joseph E. Worcester's Octavo Dictionary, at the option of the school committee of each town;" and we, be a majority of the school committee, hereby certify, that each school for which a Dictionary is requested, furnished " with a suitable book-case or desk for the safe keeping of the Dictionary," agreeable to the request contained in a proviso of the said Resolves.

School Committee.

"The TEACHER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA, as well as LEXICON, for daily reference. Could a copy of it be provided, as the permanent property of every District School, the effect, as regards the improvement of instruction, would be deeply and extensively felt, in the increased skill of the teacher, and the higher attainment of his pupils."—Wm. Russell, Esq. late Ed. Am. Journal of Education, &c.

WEBSTER'S QUARTO DICTIONARY
IN DISTRICT SCHOOLS.

Springfield, Mass., January, 1851.

DEAR SIR:—Will you allow us to solicit your attention, as a friend of Common Schools, and deeply interested in the important interests of Common School education, to a work pre-eminently of a national character, and of which we are the Publishers—WEBSTER'S UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY. It has already been introduced, as a book of reference, with great advantage, into very many public schools, in different sections of the country.

Professor EATON, State Superintendent of Public Schools in Vermont, and late Governor of that State, in a letter under date of Oct. 9, 1850, remarks as follows:—

"It was my lot to be present and preside, about four years since, at a State Meeting of our County Superintendents, — then the appointed Board for recommending books for school purposes,—when I had the gratification of seeing WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY adopted as the Standard Dictionary for the Schools of Vermont. I was gratified—because I felt that this work was worthy to be a Standard; that it afforded a safe harbor after long tossings upon a sea of doubt and uncertainty:—a secure resting place from the fluctuations to which our language had long been subjected, and to which, without this work, it would still, as much as ever, be exposed."

The work, as you will notice upon another page of this Circular, has been adopted as the standard in the State Normal School at Albany, recommended by the Regents for the Academies, and by S. S. Randall, Esq., Deputy Superintendent, and Editor of the N. Y. District School Journal, and its introduction into the District Schools reccommended by Mr. Secretary Morgan, as well as by very many of the active and judicious friends of popular education throughout the country.

Respectfully Yours,

G. & C. MERRIAM.

At the recent session of the Legislature of Massachusetts, provision was made for furnishing to every School District which desired to possess it, a copy of Webster's Quarto Dictionary, at the expense of the State.

"Carry this dictionary," said an intelligent advocate of the measure, "with its full and exact definitions, its ample stores of information, into every school, no matter if it be so humble that it cannot understand the value of the gift, and it will meet many an awakening mind, to show it what has been and what can be known. It will stimulate their minds to high aims, and after a few years, bright and enduring results will be the consequence. If your schools need libraries, how much more do they need the book which of all others that has ever been printed in this country, is a library of itself—which will answer more questions, and give more certain, more rich and various information on points on which every one needs knowledge, than any book in the English language, save one only—and that is the book of books. This for your common schools stands next to that one."

"That every family should have the Book of books, is clear. It is also plain, that at least every School District should have the Dictionary of Dictionaries."—Boston Daily Bee, July 8, 1850.

The Committee on Education of the Massachusetts Legislature, speak of the work in the following terms:—

"Webster's Dictionary is widely and favorably known to the public, not only in this country, but in all others where the English language is used. As a defining dictionary, its superiority over all others is universally admitted. It is, indeed, a most learned and valuable work, reflecting high honor upon the literary character of our country, and cost the author the labor and research, more or less continuous, of some sixty years of his life. It has received the highest commendations, from persons of the greatest consideration, in this country and in England. In the latter, it has been republished, and it is, at the present time, the avowed basis of an "Imperial Dictionary," in the course of publication in Great Britain. It may be justly regarded, not only as a most reliable and exact defining dictionary, but a complete encyclopædia of the technical terms of science and the arts."

At a meeting of the Teachers' Association of Massachusetts, held at Worcester, November 26 and 27, 1850, the following resolution was adopted:—

Resolved, That we, as Teachers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, highly appreciate and acknowledge with gratitude the liberality of the government of this State in placing within the reach of the pupils of every school district, a copy of Webster or Worcester's large Dictionary.

(The Districts in Massachusetts have taken about three thousand copies of Webster, and less than one hundred of Worcester. Those not yet supplied are rapidly sending in their orders for Webster.)

At a meeting of the Teachers' Association, of Vermont, held at Montpelier, Oct. 16, 1850, the following resolution was adopted:—

"Resolved, That in the opinion this Association, the placing a copy of Webster's Quarto Dictionary in each of our District Schools and higher literary Institutions, as a book of reference, both for teachers and pupils, would be of incalculable benefit to the cause of education by the influence it would exert in creating habits of investigation and accuracy as to the use of language, as well as by placing before our youth an amount of information which can be found in no other uninspired volume."

"A good Dictionary is an article of school apparatus that ought to be regarded as indispensable. It is not enough that the teacher should be skilled in English lexicography; the book should be at hand so that he can refer to it for authorities, and illustrations of nice shades of meaning. It should lie on the desk, so that the scholars can themselves consult it."—Vermont Chronicle.

A Dictionary is the last work which a scholar ever wants to have abridged, the process being sure to cut off THE VERY MATTER WHICH HE MOST VALUES.—Boston Chronotype.

"In revising and publishing an enlarged edition of this invaluable work at so cheap a rate as to bring it within the reach of almost every family, you have rendered AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE TO MANKIND."

From Hon. David L. Gregg, Secretary of State, and Superintendent of Public Schools for the State of Illinois,
Dec. 5, 1850.

"I have long regarded Dr. Webster's Dictionary as by far the best which the English language affords, and I most fully concur in the recommendations bestowed upon it, both in Great Britain and America. It is truly complete, accurate, and reliable—precise in its definitions—profoundly learned as to etymology—and in orthography and pronunciation, conformable to the best usage. It may well be said to stand without a rival in the annals of English lexicography."

*New Hampshire Board of Education.* The County Commissioners of Common Schools organized as a Board of Education, at Concord, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 1850, recommended WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY, as a book of reference to be used in District Schools.

"Without reserve or qualification, THE BEST EXTANT." — President Olin.

WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY.

PRICE REDUCED TO SIX DOLLARS.

The Entire Work, Unabridged, in 1 Vol., Crown Quarto, of 1452 Pages. Containing THREE TIMES the matter found in any other English Dictionary compiled in this country, or any abridgment of this work, and every word of this DENGAGEMENT and PURITY! — dim. W. E. Calkham.

REVISED BY PROFESSOR C. A. GOODRICH, OF YALE COLLEGE.
PUBLISHED BY G. & C. MERRIAM, SPRINGFIELD, MASS.,
AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.

TESTIMONIALS.

"AGES WILL ELAPSE before any other Dictionary of the Language will be required."

LL.D. of Scotland, author of "Ch. Philoso.," etc.,

"Its reputation is widely extended. I doubt not this edition has received essential improvements from the able hands it has passed through."

"BEST DEFINING DICTIONARY of the English Language."

"ACCURATE and RELIABLE in giving a just exhibition of the Language."

"The most ACCURATE and RELIABLE Dictionary of the Language."

"I find it an invaluable vado mecum."

"WILL LAST FOR AGES," — Dr. Dick.

"The STANDARD wherever the English Language is spoken." — Professor Stover.

A Dictionary of the English Language." — London Morning Chron.

We know of no one uninspired volume in the English Language, that contains so much information that is valuable and available to all, as Webster's Quarto Dictionary. This may seem to some an extravagant encomium upon a Dictionary, but it is a 'sober second thought.'—Amherst (N. H.) Cabinet, April 8, 1850.

From Hon. R. S. Rust, Commissioner of Public Schools for the State of New Hampshire.

CONCORD, N. H., June 7, 1850.

### Messrs. MERRIAM:

* * Command my services in the circulation of the best
Dictionary of the English Language.

Yours, &c.

R. S. RUST.

From Hon. Samuel Galloway, Secretary of State, and Superintendent of Common Schools for the State of Ohio.

Secretary of State's Office,
Columbus, O., Jan. 2, 1850.

Messrs. G. & C. Merriam, Springfield, Massachusetts :—I have used, exclusively, within the last year, in all my investigations and in all cases of doubt and difficulty in language, "Webster's Unabridged Dictionary," revised by Prof. Goodrich, and I can, as (do, cordially recommend it as the best Dictionary of the English language extant with which I am acquainted. It will be my pleasure to promote as fully as I can its use and circulation. It is gratifying to me, as it must be gratifying to every lover of English literature, that a work so pre-eminent in merit and so indispensable to our wants has been furnished.

Respectfully,

SAMUEL GALLOWAY.

Normal School of the State of New York.

"Resolved, unanimously, That Webster's Quarto Dictionary be the Standard in the New York State Normal School."

WM. H. CAMPBELL, Clerk Ex. Com.

Albany, March 12, 1850.

Academies of the State of New York.

At a meeting of the Regents, held at the Capitol, Albany, Feb. 14, 1850,

Resolved unanimously, That the new edition of Webster's Dictionary in Quarto, edited by Professor Chauncey A. Goodrich and published by G. & C. Merriam, Springfield, Mass., be recommended to be purchased for the Libraries of Academies under the visitation of the Regents. [About 150 in number.] A true Copy.

T. ROMEYN BECK.

From Hon. Samuel A. Eliot, late Mayor of Boston, and Treasurer of Harvard University:

BOSTON, May 3, 1850.

* * I have long set a very high value upon this learned work, and can have no doubt that its introduction in the Common Schools will be of essential service to the maturer minds of the teachers, and indirectly, therefore, to the opening intellects of the children. I remain, gentlemen, respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

SAMUEL A. ELIOT.

Messrs. G. & C. Merriam, Springfield.

"The merits of this work are above all praise. It is pronounced by all competent judges to be the only reliable Dictionary of the language. Every family should possess it, and especially should it be a permanent fixture of every school in the land."—Illinois Journal of Education, June 1, 1850.

From the Annual Report of Hon. Christopher Morgan, Secretary of State, and Superintendent of Public Schools for the State, presented to the New York Legislature, Jan, 1850.

"In connection with the subject of district libraries, the Superintendent deems it his duty particularly to direct the attention of the trustees and inhabitants of the several school districts to a work of undoubted utility, and pre-eminently of a national character, which should find a place in every library, viz: Webster's Unabridged Quarto Dictionary, published by Messrs. G. & C. Merriam, of Springfield, Massachusetts. As a standard of orthography

and orthoepy, its claims to general adoption have been resuscitated by the most eminent scholars and statesmen of our land; and as a purely American work, prepared at great expense, and emanating from a source entitled to the highest credit and respect, it commends itself strongly to the adoption of our school districts generally."

State of N. Y., Secretary's Office, Department of Common Schools, Albany, Dec. 24, 1849.

### Messrs. G. & C. MERRIAM: —
* * * Independently of the great merits of this truly national work as a complete exposition of the English language, the style in which it is presented is creditable in the extreme to the enterprise and taste of the publishers, and honorable to the country. * * Whatever this Department can do to place it within the reach of the officers and inhabitants of the several School Districts of the State, will most cheerfully be done.

If the use of my name can be of any service whatever in further extending the knowledge of the great accession which the publication of this work has made to our national literature, and of the high appreciation with which it is regarded by the friends of education generally, you are at perfect liberty to add it to the list of those already obtained; and any thing I can do, as the editor of an educational journal, to promote its circulation, will be most cheerfully performed.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
SAMUEL S. RANDALL,

Dept. Supt. Com. Schools, and Ed. N. Y., State District School Jour.

Extract from a Lecture addressed to a Teachers' Institute, by William Russell, Principal of the Merrimack (N. H.) School for Teachers, and formerly Editor of the American Journal of Education.

"The edition of Dr. Webster's Dictionary, revised by Professor Goodrich, I would earnestly recommend to the attention of all teachers who are desirous of becoming fully qualified to give instruction in the English language. The copious information which that work embodies on all topics connected with Etymology,—the extreme exactness, as well as the number, extent and fullness of the definitions which it furnishes to every important word, render it a mine of philological wealth to instructors. The volume is, in fact, the teacher's encyclopedia, as well as lexicon, for daily reference. Could a copy of it be provided, as the permanent property of EVERY DISTRICT SCHOOL, the effect, as regards the improvement of instruction, would be deeply and extensively felt, in the increased skill of the teacher, and the higher attainments of his pupils, in the most important part of education—the acquisition of an adequate knowledge and proper use of our own language."

"The publishers have received an order, from the city authorities of New York, for forty-seven copies of the work, to be placed in forty-seven of the public schools of the city, for the use of teachers and pupils."—Springfield Republican.

"At a meeting of the Board of Public Instruction of St. Louis, March 13, 1849.

"Resolved, That a copy of Webster's Unabridged Quarto Dictionary be placed upon the desk of each teacher in the grammar department of the St. Louis PUBLIC SCHOOLS, as a book of reference for teachers and pupils.'

"As an American, I am proud of the work. It is gratifying to see that it gives such universal satisfaction. I shall recommend it as the standard in the PUBLIC SCHOOLS of this state."—Thomas H. Benton, Jr., Superintendent of Public Instruction in Iowa.

"WEBSTER'S QUARTO DICTIONARY UNABRIDGED.—In the unanimous judgment of the leading literary press of Great Britain and the United States, Webster's Dictionary is the most learned, the most comprehensive, and the most complete work of the kind in the English language."—Journal of Education for Upper Canada, Toronto, Jan. 1849.

"My judgment and feelings are most heartily and permanently engaged in doing all that I can to make Webster the standard wherever the English is spoken, as it deserves to be, must be, is, and will be."—Professor Stowe.

"GET THE BEST."

WEBSTER'S DICTIONARIES.

WEBSTER'S SCHOOL DICTIONARIES, WIZ.:

WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY, UNIVERSITY EDITION.

WEBSTER'S HIGH SCHOOL PRONOUNCING DICTIONARY.

WEBSTER'S POCKET DICTIONARY.

WEBSTER'S ELEMENTARY SPELLER.

Do. do. do. Pictorial Edition.

FORMING A COMPLETE SERIES, AND AFFORDING A NATIONAL STANDARD, THIS SECURING UNIFORMITY OF ORTHOGRAPHY AND PRONUNCIATION FOR THE MILLIONS THAT ARE TO CONSTITUTE THIS VAST REPUBLIC.

OF THE SPELLING-BOOK ONE MILLION COPIES ARE SOLD ANNUALLY.

THE LEADING SERIES OF SCHOOL BOOKS PUBLISHED IN THIS COUNTRY, ARE BASED UPON WEBSTER'S SYSTEM.

\*\* There is no other acknowledged Standard in this country or Great Britain; and the following, among many others, show the views of prominent gentlemen through the country, on this subject.

"ONE LANGUAGE, ONE COUNTRY, ONE DESTINY."

'We rejoice that it bids fair to become the STANDARD DICTIONARY to be used by the numerous millions of people who are to inhabit the United States.'—Signed by 104 Members of Congress.

I. MAINE.

From the State Superintendent.

PORTLAND, Maine, Oct. 9, 1854.

I hope this series, varying as it does in size and price, will find that universal circulation so necessary to any uniformity in the use and pronunciation of our mother tongue.

Nationality of language is a stronger bond of union than constitutional compromises or commercial affiliations. Your Dictionaries afford every facility for a national standard.

The thirty years of study, the acquisition of as many dialects, the foreign travel and varied research necessary to rescue from oblivion thirty thousand words, have secured for Dr Webster the gratitude of every student of lexicology.

CHARLES A. LORD.

II. NEW HAMPSHIRE.

From the State Commissioner.

From Hon. R. S. RUST, Commissioner of Public Schools for the State of New Hampshire.

"CONCORD, N. H. June 7, 1850.

"MESSRS. MERRIAM: \* \* \* Command my services in the circulation of the best Dictionary of the English language. "Yours, &c. R. S. RUST.

From Gov. METCALF, June, 1855.

\*\*\* To these might properly be added a copy of that great American Standard of Language, Webster's Dictionary.

III. VERMONT.

PROFESSOR EATON, State Superintendent of Public Schools in Vermont, and late Governor of that State, in a letter under date of Oct. 9, 1850, remarks as follows:—

"It was my lot to be present, and preside, about four years since, at a State meeting of our County Superintendents,— then the appointed Board for recommending books for School purposes,— when I had the gratification of seeing WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY adopted as the Standard Dictionary for the Schools of Vermont. I was gratified, because I felt that it was worthy to be a Standard.

From the Academies.

"We recognize Webster's Dictionary as the standard authority in Orthography, Pronunciation, and Definitions, and so recommend it to the schools under our charge."

Signed by principals of 36 Academies and higher Seminaries, for 1855.

IV. MASSACHUSETTS.

From the State Superintendent,

EX-GOVERNOR BOUTWELL.

"I regard it as the most valuable contribution yet made to that department of learning."

Sept. 27, 1855.

GEO. S. BOUTWELL.

"So far as I know, there is a unanimity of opinion, that Dr. Webster's is the best *Defining* Dictionary in the English Language. Whoever may choose to purchase the Dictionary of other lexicographers, I should earnestly advise to purchase

Dr. Webster's also: and ESPECIALLY ALL THOSE WHO ARE MAINLY DEPENDENT ON SELF-CULTURE, OR SELF-EDUCATION, TO KEEP A COPY OF THIS WORK BY THEIR SIDE, AS A HAND-BOOK."—

Hon. Horace Mann, late Sec'y Board of Education for Massachusetts.

PROF. STOWE.

Under date of May 5th, 1854, Professor Stowe, late of Ohio, now of Massachusetts, says—

"I am decidedly in favor of Webster, for the following reasons, to wit:

1. Webster is the most uniformly analogical and self-consistent.

2. His system falls in most completely with the tendencies of the language: and if in any thing he goes beyond present usage, it is in the right direction, and the usage will soon overtake him.

3. He has present possession of the ground more than any other one. In the United States he is the authority every where, except in Boston; and even there, more than any other one. In England he has more authority than any other one, and is continually gaining.

4. He is the great American Philologist, the most learned and devoted scholar in his special department, that the English language knows; and for this reason, other things being equal, he deserves the preference.

5. If we would have uniformity, we must adopt Webster, for he cannot be displaced; but others may be.

State Purchase.

MASSACHUSETTS has supplied 3248 of her schools—nearly all—with a copy of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, at the expense of the State.

V. RHODE ISLAND.

From President Wayland,
of Brown University.

"It gives me great pleasure to state, that I have made use either of your Quarto or Octavo Dictionary, ever since the time of their publication; and that for copiousness, for the actitude of definition and adaptedness to the present state science and literature, they seem to me to be the most valuable works of the kind that I have ever seen in our language. In the general principles of Orthography and Pronunciation, which you have adopted, I also concur, and shall endeavoured to conform to them in practice.

FRANCIS WAYLAND

WEBSTER'S
INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY
OF THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

EDITED BY NOAH PORTER, D.D., LL.D.
OF YALE UNIVERSITY.

PUBLISHED BY G. & C. MERRIAM & CO., SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

With what liberal expenditure of time and toil and money this duty to scholarship and to the public has been performed, partly appears in the following statements: —

Work having direct specific reference to the publication of this Dictionary has been in progress for OVER TEN YEARS.

NOT LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED PERSONS have been employed under pay in doing the editorial work. Besides these, a large number of interested scholars have freely contributed in important ways to its completeness and value.

The service of the paid workers amounts in the aggregate to OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS of literary labor.

Within these ten years, and before the first copy was printed, there were expended in the work of investigation, editing, illustrating, typesetting, correcting, etc., MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

These facts are presented as an assurance, which under existing conditions is due to the public, that WEBSTER'S INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY is the right heir to the preëminent favor which for more than half a century has been given to the great work of NOAH WEBSTER and its successive revised editions.

* The first edition of Webster's Dictionary that was called the "Unabridged" was a revised edition published in 1847. The edition of 1859 was the same book from A to Z, with a supplement. The legitimate successor of that work was the revised edition published in 1864, which soon superseded the older editions in public favor. To this supplements were subsequently added See Preface to Webster's International Dictionary.

c2 6d

"OUR REPUBLIC.—Its compactness depends not so much upon the Fourth of July, as it does upon the Dictionary. There is a one-ness of thought in a oneness of word; a common language is the dear depository of a common past, and those who have the same syllables for "home" and "mother;" for "health" and "heaven" can never be less than kindred.

Webster's Dictionary (Unabridged,) is to the world of Mind, what the simple elements the Chemist gathers in his hand sometimes, are to the world of Matter; and we shall never be done wondering how myriad forms of strength and beauty are forever evolved from words."—Chicago Journal.

"Save the Bible, Webster's Dictionary has received more special recommendations of its high practical importance than any other book in the world. The author is acknowledged to be the greatest lexicographer the world has produced. No man is armed cap-a- pie unless he has put on Webster. No family or public library is complete without a copy of Webster's Dictionary. It is a library itself and no man is too poor to own one. We could not get along a day without it."—Fre. Journal.

"Nine tenths of the current English literature of the day could be better spared than Webster's Dictionary."—Village Record, Aug. 1858.

"It is the only correct dictionary in our language, and even those individuals who at first failed it so bitterly, have learned from it to spell honor without the u, and public without the k. Every man who pretends to speak or write the English language should have access to this work."

Nightstown Excelsior.

"We can truly say that without Webster, we should be destitute of wisdom, wit, and words."

Amenia Times, Aug. 1858.

"The fact is, as appears from the statements of seventy-four leading booksellers in the United States, that they sell twenty copies of Webster to one of any other. If you want a Dictionary, be sure to buy Webster's."—Baptist Family Magazine.

c2 1d1w79 Published by G. & C. MERRIAM.

THE HONORABLE THE JUSTICES OF THE SU-

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JOSIAH HO
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HENRY VOSE. Sec'y. HENRY
Directors—Benj. Day, Josiah
cox, E. A. Morris, J. M. Thomp
B. Stebbins.

THE SPRINGFIELD
SAVINGS BANK
Banking-room, First Floor in P
MAIN STREET

Business Hours from 9 to 12
President—Joseph C. Pynchon
Vice Presidents—E. D. Beach,
Wm. Rice, Gad O. Bliss, Marvin
Trustees—Charles Merriam, F.
Bond, A. W. Chapin, Daniel P.
ner Jr., Henry A. Chapin, B. J.
Chapin, E. F. Moseley, George I.
J. T. Rockwood, H. Fuller Jr.,
Bagg, West Springfield; J. B. M.
bert A. Smith, South Hadley;
yoke, M. Raymond, Wilbraham
Treasurer—Charles Marsh. Sec

HAMPDEN SAVI
SPRINGFIELD
Office at the Agawa
Deposits received every busine
3 p. m.

STEPHEN C. BEMIS

Vice Presidents—Chester W.
Eliphalet Trask, Springfield;
Palmer.

Trustees—Samuel S. Day, F.
Huntington, Thomas W. Wase
K. Baker, Theo. Stebbins, Hen
Edw. Southworth, Wm. Melch
Jones L. Davis, Holyoke; Wm
Secretary, A. L. Soule. Trea

Deposits made at any time
ending the third Mondays of F
and November, will be put on i
day succeeding the deposit, at t
per annum.

To Publishers of Periodicals.

At this date we have more than six hundred such applications, in a special file, received within comparatively a brief period.

We wish to state, that in the present depressed state of business, advertising, on any terms whatever, does us very little good.

In this state of things,—after having advertised WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY very extensively for fifteen years, we must in many cases entirely decline proposals we receive, and in other cases, ask a larger amount of advertising, for a single book, than might reasonably be expected, under other circumstances.

G. & C. MERRIAM.

SPRINGFIELD, MASS., 18

Since the issue of our new Pictorial Edition of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, we are in receipt of a great number of letters from editors, who desire copies of the work, payable in the use of their columns; these applications are so numerous, that we are compelled to answer them, to a great extent, by circulars.

As, however, this new edition is very expensive to us, as well as very valuable to those who purchase, it will be deemed as only reasonable that we ask in payment the insertion of an amount of matter, ORIGINAL OR SELECTED, proportionate to the equivalent we are asked to give in payment for it.

It will be a matter of convenience to us, in consulting our files, if you will mark your reply "No."

G. & C. MERRIAM.

["## Late Educational Testimony.", "Worthy of the proud place it occupies as the great standard dictionary of our good English language. I say standard, for while a few scholars and others, here and there, prefer other dictionaries, Webster's is beyond dispute the book of the people, the common standard of appeal among the great masses, learned and unlearned of our land.—Hon. J. M. Gregory, Sup. Pub. Ins. Mich., June 1859.", "\"It is a noble work, and does you infinite credit.\"—H. L. C. Draper, State Supt., Michigan, August, 1859.", "\"More than ever is the book a necessary article in the school-house, and in the family where learning and literature have a place. * * We had the curiosity to examine with a magnifier some of these engravings, and compare them with steel engravings in bank notes, and found the illustrations often equally good, sometimes found the illustrations often equally good. None but a teacher, or an intelligent parent, superior. None but a teacher, or an intelligent parent, can estimate how valuable these eighty pages of illustrations are. The placing has allowed the printing of them to be part of the volume has all the illustrations in a separate part of the volume has all the illustrations in a separate tions are. The placing has allowed the printing of them to be executed in much better style than if they had been incorporated in the text.—Illinois Teacher, August, 1859.", "In *Definitions* Webster is unrival. Webster's *Etymologica* is admirable. Nearly all American newspapers and books *spell* according to Webster. To dethrone Webster from the affections of the American people would be a greater revolution than has been witnessed since the Cruises.—Cor. Mich. Jour. Education, August, 1859.", "The value of the dictionary is materially increased by the additions, and we do not see how it can be improved in any respect. The acknowledged standard in our State; the thanks of the public are due the enterprising publishers for their unremitting exertions in keeping the work fully up to the progress of our language.—Wts. Jour. Education, August, 1859.", "In our daily teaching we have had upon our table the new edition of Webster and have subjected it to constant test. * * * Not a word is necessary concerning the *matter* of Webster's *Unabridged* Dictionary; it is Webster—*Ho Me Registos*. The table of *Synonyms* is of almost inestimable value. A case occurred the other day in our school. * * * The Pictorial *Illustrations* are henceforth a *sine qua non* for every large dictionary.", "By having them separate like large encyclopedias, * * * The most Encyclopedias, all illustrations of Architecture, Heraldry, Botany or of Mechanics, can be brought together. * * The best Lexicon of the English Language ever issued from the Press.—R. I. Schoolmaster, July, 1859.", "In all respects a book of unsurpassed worth.—Conn. Com. School Journal, August, 1859.", "We consider that the additions have more than doubled the value of the work for ordinary use.—Ind. School Jour., August, 1859.", "That this will be the most valuable edition of any Dictionary in the English language no one can for a moment doubt.—Iowa School Journal, July, 1859.", "The *illustrations* are finely cut and printed, and form a novel and valuable feature.—Ala Educational Journal, August, 1859.", "We may safely say, that Webster's *Dictionary, Pictorial Edition, Unabridged*, is the most complete Dictionary of the English Language, that we have ever seen. In the completeness of its *vocabulary* of our language, and in the accuracy and fullness of its *definitions*, Webster's Dictionary stands preeminent; and in *orthography* it is followed by a majority of American writers, so far as our observation extends.—N. Carolina Journal of Education, August, 1859.", "It has retained all the good of its predecessors, and has added new and valuable improvements. * * * Hon. Horace Mann has said: \"It is *the best defining Dictionary in the English Language,\" and eminent scholars and orators, like Daniel Webster, Wm. H. Prescott, and others, have declared themselves decidedly in favor of the accuracy and extent of its definitions. * In this respect, (pronunciation) Webster's works appear to us at least as good and authoritative as any we have seen. *", "* These alterations (*orthography*) appear to us not only reasonable, but also popular, when we are told that ten million school books are annually published in the United States, compiled by authors who recognise Webster as their standard of orthography. * Too high praise cannot be bestowed on the execution of the *wood cuts*. To present these cuts all by themselves is an advantage, because they could thus be printed on better paper, and be easier and to greater advantage classified under distinct heads. * * A Table of *Synonyms*, by Prof. Goodrich, occupying seventy quarto pages, and containing over 2000 words, the meaning and use of which are shown more clearly and minutenly than in any other work with which we are acquainted. * * No unimportant and arbitrary *synonyms* have been omitted in the appendix of this edition. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Late Educational Testimony.

Worthy of the proud place it occupies as the great
standard dictionary of our good English language. I say
standard, for while a few cablaves and others here and
there, prefer other
put the book of
peal among the
ourland.—Hon.
1859.

"It is a noble
Hon. L. C. Drap

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August, 1859.

That this wit
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August, 1859.

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Massachusetts

Teacher, Sept. 1859.

"Get the Best." Get the Handsomest.
Get the Cheapest. Get Webster,

Specimen pamphlets of the new features sent by mail on application.

Sales of Webster's Dictionaries.

From certain published statements of the leading
booksellers from every part of the country, it would

Rooms of the American Missionary Association,

No. 48 BEEKMAN STREET,

New York! Sept. 15, 1860.

MESSRS. G. & C. MERRIAM, of Springfield, Mass., who publish Webster's Quarto Dictionary, frequently receive applications for copies of that work, either as donations, or at a reduced price, as a favor to clergymen or others whose means are limited. They have found it necessary to prepare a circular, stating that it is entirely out of their power to meet all these applications in the manner desired.

They have however placed at the disposal of the undersigned, a number of copies of the Pictorial edition of that work, recently issued by them, to be furnished to any clergyman, now laboring in the service of the American Missionary Association, who shall within six months apply to us for a copy of the work, certifying that it is for his own use, and accompanying his application with a remittance of $2.50; or, if he has an account with the Society, authorizing that amount to be charged to him.

The copies paid for will be delivered to Missionaries, or to persons authorized to receive them, AT THE OFFICE OF THE ASSOCIATION ONLY; and applications should in no case be made to the publishers.

Those who wish to avail themselves of this offer, can usually
find a merchant in their vicinity, who orders goods from this city,
and who can obtain the dictionary with little trouble or expense.

G. WHIPPLE,
S. S. JOCELYN, { Secretaries.

P. S.—The retail price of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, Pictorial Edition, is $6.50.

80 large pages, covered with pictorial illustrations, three
columns on a page, of objects, that need, in addition to
a verbal description, such a representation. The objects
are well chosen, and the pictures are accurate and ele-
gant.

We need only add that there can be found no other
work embracing together such a perfect and correct
hibition of the whole English language.—Zion's Her