MODERN DICTIONARY

Southland Times, Issue 19275, 20 June 1924, Page 6

MODERN DICTIONARY

STUPENDOUS WORK OF COMPILA’nON. When Johnson finished his famous dictionary, after seven years of laborious work, Andrew Millar, the bookseller, exclaimed io the author’s amusement: “Thank God, 1 have done with him!” Johnson got £1575 for the work. That will give some impression of the gigantic task involved in the Oxford Dictionary, which is now nearing completion, for this great undertaking has been going on for 45 years, and it is expected to cost no less than £1,250,000 says the Yorkshire Post. It will be the greatest work of its kind in existence, and the last word on the philology of the English language. Yet, in spite of the time occupied in compilation, it has been a record in s|>eed for such a work, for a huge German dictionary and a Dutch dictionary are still ' lagging on in their respective countries, although the first was begun in 1838 and the later in 1850. According to one of the editors, the Oxford Dictionary will contain 425,000 words, the life history of which, as given in this work, will probably settle their origin and evolution for all time. Among its distinguished editors have been Sir James Murray, Dr Henry Bradley and i Dr William Craigie.”