The Story Of A Fantastic Dictionary

In 1755, Samuel Johnson published an English dictionary that has gone down in history.

Not only was it the first of its kind, it was full of funny jokes.

Today we tell the story of this fantastic dictionary.


Dictionaries before 1755

Why Johnson's was so famous

Why was a dictionary needed?

Why was the English language a mess?

'Fixing' English

Johnson's dictionary: 40,000 words of fine scholarship

Hidden joke 1: the definition of 'oats'

Hidden joke 2: the definition of 'lexicographer'

Hidden joke 3: the definition of 'lunch'

Why writing a dictionary is so hard



Key vocabulary: Scholarship, Intriguing, Politically correct, Authoritative, Captured, The masses, Painting a picture, Linguistic, Reflecting on, Estimated, Mess, Literacy, Formal, All-encompassing, Collate, Unsatisfactory, Fast-forward, Scene was set, Stabilise, Anomalies, Peculiarities, Set things straight, Hang on, Exceptions, Convoluted, Messy, Organism, Gargantuan, Rivalry, Harmless, Busies, Tracing, Unpleasant, Unappreciated, Extensive, Buried, Highlighted, Adapt, From scratch, Evolving


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