Johnson's Dictionary

A Dictionary of the English Language, published in 1755 by Samuel Johnson, stands as one of the most influential works in the history of lexicography. Commissioned by a group of London booksellers in 1746, Johnson sought to standardize the English language, which at the time lacked a definitive authoritative guide. Over nine years of intensive labor, he documented over 40,000 words, illustrating their usage with quotations from the most celebrated authors in the English canon.

The design of the dictionary was notable for its inclusion of literary citations, a departure from the purely utilitarian definitions of its predecessors. Johnson’s work was characterized by its witty, sometimes idiosyncratic definitions that reflected his own political and philosophical leanings. Upon its release, the dictionary was widely hailed as a monumental achievement in scholarly rigor, effectively providing the structure for English spelling and grammar that would persist for over a century.