“A” New English Dictionary on Historical Principles: Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by the Philological Society. V - Z / V by W. A. Craigie ...

The Oxford English Dictionary, originally titled A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles, began as a monumental project by the Philological Society in the mid-19th century to document the entirety of the English language. This specific volume, covering the letter V, was edited by Sir William Alexander Craigie, one of the primary lexicographers who helped bring the ambitious multi-decade project to completion in the 1930s. The design and methodology were driven by the goal of chronicling the evolution of words through historical citations, a rigorous scholarly standard established by the original editor, James Augustus Henry Murray.

The creation of this dictionary was a collaborative effort involving hundreds of volunteer contributors and expert editors who sifted through centuries of literature to provide an exhaustive linguistic record. Upon its publication, the dictionary was received as an unparalleled triumph of scholarship and remains the authoritative reference work for English etymology. The physical volumes, known for their distinct scholarly layout, represent a legacy of Victorian-era academic ambition and the meticulous pursuit of philological precision.