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A Comprehensive Pronouncing and Explanatory Dictionary of the English Language.
Three years—1828 to 1830—saw the most prolific output ever by a lexicographer: Joseph E. Worcester. First came his abridgment of Johnson’s Dictionary. Converse then approached him to abridge Webster’s masterwork. Worcester declined, but when Converse…
A Critical Review of the Orthography of Dr. Webster’s Series of Books for Systematick Instruction in the English Language
The feisty Lyman Cobb became fixated on Webster’s many flip-flops in spelling—caused in part by Worcester’s influence in the 1829 abridgment, which contradicted Webster. Cobb’s marginal strictures in his copy of the 1828 Webster resulted in this…
Letter to Messrs. Sampson Lowe & Co. with Dickens’s wax seal intact
Sounding as if he might have requested a copy, the great novelist thanked the British booksellers Sampson Lowe & Co. for “promptly forwarding Dr. Worcester’s Dictionary.” He assured them that he would write to Worcester himself.
Undated lists of spellings to be approved by William Chauncey Fowler (both sons-in-law of Noah Webster)
In the mid-1840s, Goodrich sent Fowler lists of spellings in the hope of reaching a consensus. Backed by the Merriams, Goodrich knew all about Lyman Cobb’s criticisms of Webster’s inconsistencies. The envious Fowler sought word-by-word votes of the…
An American Dictionary of the English Language
This dictionary, called “Webster-Mahn,” was in its day the best ever produced. (Worcester’s book held that title for only four years!) The definitions were rigorous, and the fanciful etymologies were at last retrenched. Noah Porter engaged Professor…
Letter to William G. Webster supporting the purchase of Noah Webster’s synopsis of his Dictionary for the Library of Congress
After his father’s death in May 1843, William G. Webster worked to ensure his father’s legacy and his own. Recently bankrupted, William struggled to find a footing. His name began appearing on the title pages of Webster “pocket editions.” There was…
A Dictionary of the English Language
The preface to Worcester’s big dictionary, 30 years in the making, magnanimously praised both Noah Webster and Chauncey Goodrich. Perhaps it was doomed from the beginning: Worcester had been fending off accusations of literary wrongdoing for years.…
An American Dictionary of the English Language . . . By Noah Webster, LL.D
Three years—1828 to 1830—saw the most prolific output ever by a lexicographer: Joseph E. Worcester. First came his abridgment of Johnson’s Dictionary. Converse then approached him to abridge Webster’s masterwork. Worcester declined, but when Converse…
Johnson’s English Dictionary . . . with Walker’s Pronouncing Dictionary, combined
Three years—1828 to 1830—saw the most prolific output ever by a lexicographer: Joseph E. Worcester. First came his abridgment of Johnson’s Dictionary. Converse then approached him to abridge Webster’s masterwork. Worcester declined, but when Converse…