“A” Dictionary of the English Language: Founded on that of Samuel Johnson as Edited by H. J. Todd ; with Numerous Emendations and Additions ; in Two Volumes. RELU - ZYMO. 2, 2

Published in the 1860s and 1870s, this work represented a significant nineteenth-century effort to modernize and expand upon Samuel Johnson's foundational lexicographical work. Robert Gordon Latham, a noted philologist and ethnologist, undertook the task of revising H.J. Todd’s edition of Johnson’s dictionary. His goal was to incorporate the rapid linguistic developments and scientific advancements that had emerged since the eighteenth century, effectively bridging the gap between classical English scholarship and the evolving requirements of the Victorian era.

Latham’s approach was academic and comprehensive, aiming to provide a more rigorous etymological basis for the English language than his predecessors. While the dictionary was admired for its depth and the sheer scale of the revisions, it faced challenges due to the monumental nature of the project. Critics often noted the logistical difficulties inherent in reconciling such vast amounts of archaic and contemporary source material, though the finished volumes remain a respected touchstone for students of nineteenth-century lexicographical history.