Dr. WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. NOTE.-The only authorized Editions of the above celebrated Dictionary are those here described: no other Editions published in England contain the Derivations and Etymological Notes of Dr. Mahn, who devoted several years to this portion of the Work. See Notice on page 4. WEBSTER'S GUINEA DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. Thoroughly revised and improved by CHAUNCEY A. GOODRICH, D.D., LL.D., and NOAH PORTER, D.D., of Yale College. The peculiar features of this volume, which render it perhaps the most useful Dictionary for general reference extant, as it is undoubtedly one of the cheapest books ever published, are as follows: 1. Completeness.-It contains 114,000 words-more by 10,000 than any other Dictionary; and these are, for the most part, unusual or technical terms, for the explanation of which a Dictionary is most wanted. 2. Accuracy of Definition.--In this department the labours of Dr. Webster were most valuable, in correcting the faulty and redundant definitions of Dr. Johnson, which had previously been almost universally adopted. In the present edition all the definitions have been carefully and methodically analysed by W. G. Webster, Esq., the Rev. Chauncey Goodrich, Prof. Lyman, Prof. Whitney, and Prof. Gilman, with the assistance and under the superintendence of Prof. Goodrich 3. Scientific and Technical Terms.In order to secure the utmost completeness and accuracy of definition, this department has been subdivided among eminent Scholars and Experts, including Prof.Dana, Prof. Lyman, &c. 4. Etymology.-The eminent philologist, Dr. C. F. MAHN, has devoted five years to perfecting this department. 5. The Orthography is based as far as possible on Fixed Principles. In all cases of doubt an alternative spelling is given. 6. Pronunciation. This has been entrusted to Mr. W. G. WEBSTER and Mr. WHEELER, assisted by other scholars. The pronunciation of each word is indicated by typographical signs, which are explained by reference to a KEY printed at the bottom of each page. 7. The Illustrative Citations.-No labour has been spared to embody such quotations from standard authors as may throw light on the definitions, or possess any special interest of thought or language. 8. The Synonyms.-These are subjoined to the words to which they belong, and are very complete. 9. The Illustrations, which exceed 3000, are inserted, not for the sake of ornament, but to elucidate the meaning of words which cannot be satisfactorily explained without pictorial aid. The Volume contains 1576 pages, more than 3000 Illustrations, and is sold for One Guinea. It will be found, on comparison, to be one of the cheapest Volumes ever issued. Cloth, 21s.; half-bound in calf, 30s.; calf or half-russia, 31s. Cd.; russia, £2. To be obtained through all Booksellers. Published by GEORGE BELL & SON 2 9.3, ARDEN, LONDON. WEBSTER'S COMPLETE DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, AND GENERAL BOOK In One Volume, Quarto, strongly bound in cloth, 1840 pages, price £1 11s. 6d.; half-calf, £2; calf or half-russia, £2 2s.; russia, £2 108. Besides the matter comprised in the WEBSTER'S GUINEA DICTIONARY, this volume contains the following Appendices, which will show that no pains have been spared to make it a complete Literary Reference-book : A Brief History of the English Language. By Professor JAMES HADLEY. This Work shows the Philological Relations of the English Language, and traces the progress and influence of the causes which have brought it to its present condition. Principles of Pronunciation. By Professor GoODRICH and W. A. WHEELER, A Short Treatise on Orthography. A Pronouncing Vocabulary of Scripture Proper Names. By W. A. WHEELER, M.A Including a List of the Variations that occur in the Douay version of the Bible. An Etymological Vocabulary of Modern Geographical Names. By the Rev. C. H. WHEELER. Containing:-I. A List of Prefixes. Terminations, and Formative Syllables in various Languages, with their meaning and derivation; m. A brief List of Geographical Names (not explained by the foregoing List), with their derivation and signification, all doubtful and obscure derivations being excluded. An Explanatory and Pronouncing Pronouncing Vocabularies of Modern Vocabulary of the Names of Noted Fictitious Persons and Places, &c. By W. A. WHEELER, M.A. This Work includes not only persons and places noted in Fiction, whether narrative, poetical, or dramatic, but Mythological and Mythical names, names referring to the Angelology and Demonology of various races, and those found in the romance writers; Pseudonyms, Nick-names of eminent persons and parties, &c., &c. In fact, it is best described as explaining every name which is not strictly historical. A reference is given to the originator of each name, and where the origin is unknown a quotation is given to some well-known writer in which the word occurs. This valuable Work may also be had separately, post 8vo., 5s. A Pronouncing Vocabulary of Greek and Latin Proper Names. By Professor THACHER, of Yale College. Geographical and Biographical Names. A Pronouncing Vocabulary of Com- A Dictionary of Quotations. Selected and translated by WILLIAM G. WEBSTER. Containing all Words, Phrases, Proverbs, and Colloquial Expressions from the Greek, Latin, and Modern Foreign Languages, which are frequently met with in literature and conversation. A List of Abbreviations, Contractions, and Arbitrary Signs used in Writing and Printing. A Classified Selection of Pictorial Illustrations (70 pages). With references to the text. "The cheapest Dictionary ever published, as it is confessedly one of the best. The introduction of small woodcut illustrations of technical and scientific terms adds greatly to the utility of the Dictionary."-Churchman, LONDON: GEORGE BELL & SONS, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY. From the QUARTERLY REVIEW, Oct. 1873. "Seventy years passed before JOHNSON was followed by Webster, an American writer, who faced the task of the English Dictionary with a full appreciation of its requirements, leading to better practical results.” "His laborious comparison of twenty languages, though never published, bore fruit in his own mind, and his training placed him both in knowledge and judgment far in advance of Johnson as a philologist. Webster's 'American Dictionary of the English Language' was published in 1828, and of course appeared at once in England, where successive re-editing has as yet kept it in the highest place as a practical Dictionary." "The acceptance of an American Dictionary in England has itself had immense effect in keeping up the community of speech, to break which would be a grievous harm, not to English-speaking nations alone, but to mankind. The result of this has been that the common Dictionary must suit both sides of the Atlantic." "The good average business-like character of Webster's Dictionary, both in style and matter, made it as distinctly suited as Johnson's was distinctly unsuited to be expanded and re-edited by other hands. Professor Goodrich's edition of 1847 is not much more than enlarged and amended, but other revisions since have so much novelty of plan as to be described as distinct works." "The American revised Webster's Dictionary of 1864, published in America and England, is of an altogether higher order than these last [The London Imperial and Student's]. It bears on its title-page the names of Drs. Goodrich and Porter, but inasmuch as its especial improvement is in the etymological department, the care of which was committed to Dr. MAHN, of Berlin, we prefer to describe it in short as the Webster-Mahn Dictionary. Many other literary men, among them Professors Whitney and Dana, aided in the task of compilation and revision. On consideration it seems that the editors and contributors have gone far toward improving Webster to the utmost that he will bear improvement. The vocabulary has become almost complete, as regards usual words, while the definitions keep throughout to Webster's simple careful style, and the derivations are assigned with the aid of good modern authorities." "On the whole, the Webster-Mahn Dictionary as it stands, is most respectable, and CERTAINLY THE BEST PRACTICAL ENGLISH DICTIONARY EXTANT." LONDON: GEORGE BELL & SONS, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. |