History of Dictionary in Timeline
A dictionary is an alphabetical listing of words from one or more languages. It provides information about each word, such as definitions, usage examples, origins, pronunciations, and translations. Dictionaries serve as lexicographical references, demonstrating the connections between words and their meanings.
1928: Oxford English Dictionary Completed
In 1928, after nearly 50 years of work, the Oxford University Press completed the twelve-volume Oxford English Dictionary, a comprehensive dictionary that superseded Johnson's dictionary as the English-language standard.
1961: Publication of Webster's Third New International Dictionary
The 1961 publication of Webster's Third New International Dictionary sparked debate due to its lack of usage guidance.
1961: Completion of Deutsches Wörterbuch
The Deutsches Wörterbuch, a monumental German dictionary started by the Brothers Grimm in 1858, was finally completed in 1961.
1964: Merriam-Webster Acquired by Encyclopedia Britannica
In 1964, Encyclopedia Britannica acquired Merriam-Webster, which had previously acquired Webster's dictionary in 1843 after his death.
1969: Publication of The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
Driven by the controversy surrounding Webster's Third, The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language emerged in 1969, pioneering the use of corpus linguistics in dictionary compilation.
1998: Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal Completed
The Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, a comprehensive Dutch dictionary, was completed in 1998 after its first volume appeared in 1863.
2000: Defining Dictionaries and English Idioms
Around the year 2000, defining dictionaries in English typically contained a limited number of words (under 2000) with only one or two meanings. These dictionaries aimed to provide a foundation for understanding more complex concepts, including the estimated 4000 most common English idioms and metaphors.
2013: Online Dictionaries and Top Lookups
By 2013, online dictionaries had become easily accessible. David Skinner observed that Merriam-Webster Online's top searches included words like "holistic," "pragmatic," "caveat," "esoteric," and "bourgeois," highlighting the educational role of modern dictionaries in expanding users' vocabularies.
2021: Ninth Edition of Dictionnaire de l'Académie française Incomplete
As of 2021, the ninth edition of the Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, first published in 1694, remained incomplete.