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Dictionaries Die Without Revision
- Dictionaries were historically one-person labors and often died with their makers.
- Without ongoing revision, reference works become outdated and cease to matter.
Early Lexicography Was Personal
- Noah Webster and Samuel Johnson worked largely alone on their dictionaries.
- Early lexicography reflected the author's personality and scholarly reach more than systematic teams.
Webster Wanted To Be The American Johnson
- Webster aimed to be the American Johnson and intentionally echoed Johnson's title.
- Publishers later hired Joseph Worcester to make a school abridgment of Webster's work.