Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

We take much for granted these days, but in our line of work, a dictionary is an absolute must! Yet there wasn't such a thing 250 years ago. Lists of hard words had been issued as dictionaries but there was no comprehensive national work.

The English literary world was acutely embarrassed by this lexicographical lack  - after all, the first Chinese language dictionary was written in 900BC. The Italians and the French had their own language dictionaries.

In 1746 Samuel Johnson was thus approached to write an English dictionary - it must have seemed a daunting task! It took nine years to finish. Johnson was one of the most important English writers of his time. The second half of the 18th century is sometimes described as 'the age of Johnson', as, next to Shakespeare, he is the most quoted of English writers.

A couple of years ago I was very privileged to acquire a beautifully bound volume of Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language from a colleague's father. Reading it today, I have to remind myself that this book was written 14 years before Napoleon was born, and before James Cook ever set foot in Australia (hence no mention of koala, kangaroo or boomerang).

Nearly every word is accompanied by a literary text to illustrate the meaning and usage. Shakespeare, Milton and Dryden are extensively quoted. The world then was a very different place. Electricity is defined as "a property in some bodies whereby, when rubbed so as to grow warm, they draw little bits of paper, or such like substances to them."

Reading the font takes some getting used to, as the letter S is sometimes written to look like F, resulting in choir being defined as "an affembly of fingers".

Johnson doesn't hide his own opinion on certain subjects, such as excise: "a hateful tax levied upon commodities, and adjudged not by the common judges of property, but wretches hired by those to whom excise is paid".

Of his own occupation he writes: lexicographer: "a writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge".

I feel very grateful to this 'harmful drudge' for writing the first English language dictionary.

Happy puzzling!

Christine