Read the excerpt from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.The solution of all difficulties, and the supply of all defects, must be sought in the examples, subjoined to the various senses of each word, and ranged according to the time of their authours.When first I collected these authorities, I was desirous that every quotation should be useful to some other end than the illustration of a word; I therefore extracted from philosophers principles of science; from historians remarkable facts; from chymists complete processes; from divines striking exhortations; and from poets beautiful descriptions.
Read the excerpts from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.Which statement best describes the use of the underlined word in the excerpts?
Which statements describe Samuel Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language? Check all that apply.
Which word has a negative connotation?
Read the excerpts from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.Which statement best describes Johnson’s treatment of the underlined word?
Read the excerpts from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.In both excerpts, the word structure refers to the
Read the excerpt from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.But to COLLECT the WORDS of our language was a task of greater difficulty: the deficiency of dictionaries was immediately apparent; and when they were exhausted, what was yet wanting must be sought by fortuitous and unguided excursions into books, and gleaned as industry should find, or chance should offer it, in the boundless chaos of a living speech. My search, however, has been either skilful or lucky; for I have much augmented the vocabulary.
Read the excerpts from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.Thus have I laboured by settling the orthography, displaying the analogy, regulating the structures, and ascertaining the signification of English words, to perform all the parts of a faithful lexicographer: but I have not always executed my own scheme, or satisfied my own expectations.
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