The Century Dictionary: An Encyclopedic Lexicon of the English Language

The Century Dictionary was conceived in the late 1870s as a successor to the Imperial Dictionary, aiming to provide a comprehensive, American-focused encyclopedic lexicon. Under the editorial leadership of William Dwight Whitney, a prominent philologist at Yale, the project sought to incorporate the latest scientific, technical, and historical terminology of the nineteenth century. Published by The Century Company between 1889 and 1891, the original set comprised six volumes, later expanded to include a volume of proper names and an atlas.

The design and production were notable for their scholarly rigor and aesthetic quality, featuring detailed wood engravings that illustrated technical concepts, flora, and fauna with precision. Its contributors included hundreds of experts in various fields, ensuring that the work served both as a dictionary of language and a reference for general knowledge. While eventually eclipsed by the Oxford English Dictionary in terms of historical linguistic scope, The Century Dictionary remains respected for its high editorial standards and the clarity of its definitions.