This revised edition of the American Dictionary of the English Language contains significant updates and improvements over previous editions. Key changes include incorporating additions and alterations from recent editions of the larger quarto version of the dictionary. Definitions have also been thoroughly revised based on the latest authorities to enhance accuracy. A new feature is the inclusion of synonyms under main entries to aid writers. Extensive efforts were made to ensure expertise across subject areas through collaboration with numerous scholars and professionals.
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11. This revised edition contains ALL THE WORDS IN THE QUARTO EDITION, and also an arrangement of
SYNONYMS under the leading words—a new and important feature, and not found in any other work.
AN AMERICAN
DICTIONARYOF THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE;
EXHIBITING
THE ORIGIN, ORTHOGRAPHY, PRONUNCIATION, AND
DEFINITIONS OF WORDS.
BY NOAH WEBSTER, LL.D.
II
ABRIDGED FROM THE ttUAETO EDITION OF THE AUTHOR
TO WHICH ARE ADDED A
SYNOPSIS OF WORDS
DIFFERENTLY PRONOUNCED BY DIFFERENT ORTHOEPISTS
AND
WALKER'S KEY
CLASSICAL PRONUNCIATION OF GREEK, LATIN, AND
SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES.
Heinaetr antr 2£ularge&,
BY CHAUNCEY A. GOODRICH,
PROFESSOR IN YALE COLLEGE.
WITH THE ADDITION OF A VOCABULARY OF
MODERN GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES, WITH THEIR PRONUNCIATION.
NEW YORK:
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,
329 & 331 PEARL STREET,
(FRANKLIN SQUARE.)
18 53.
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*«. . — .i~ t_»t. «!-«• .^f Julv in the fifty-fourth rear of the Independence of the United States of
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JL- ,..,., U U»« no rvhiMtin* the Oridn, Orthography, Pronunciation and Definitions
.. "'.: !I! ;:: „„. uiurto Edldoiirf the Author: to which are added, aJ9ynopda
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,,, ; .,., : Walker's Key to the Classical Pronunciation ot Greek,
. . . . .......;•; stat. -. < "titled, ••
An Act for the encouragement of learning, by seeu-
lViJa VS toot, to the withers and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein men-
r
.
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Ura.miem.-nt.in to an act; entitled; 'An Act tor the encouragement of learning
rfiaui^harto. and boofcatotfae author.- and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein
ihe benefit* thereof to the arte of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."
CHAS. A. INGERSOLL,
Clerk of the District of Connecticut,
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, to wit:
District Clerk's Office.
_ oa the thirteenth day of July, A.D. 1829, in the fifty-fourth year of the Independence of the
•nr»." Noah Webster and Joseph E. Worcester, of the said district, have deposited in this office
f fc book. the rifbl whereof thry claim as proprietors, in the words following, to wit i
U Aaanira* Pfethmarr of the English Language ; exhibiting the Origin, Orthography, Pronunciation, and Definitions
,
/Vi . » >, , .., , 11 !. ;,•'.:.• i-'r :.• Quarto Edition of flie Author : to which are added, a Synopsis
u ...... , ,
.
; :i :• rent < Mb B| lati ; and Walker's Key to the Classical Pronunciation of Greek,
|4fc . - riamni ;-• Maea*
la eaaferaattr to the act of the Confreaa of the United States, entitled, " An Act for the encouragement of learning, by
i
eeaaaa of oaapa, chart*, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein
k tbo to an act, entitled. " An Act supplementary to an act, entitled, ' An Act for the encouragement of
of map*, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times
of to the arte of designing engraving, and etching historical and othe:
JNO. W. DAVIS,
Clerk of the District of Massachusetts.
;
|b As Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, by
v a. OOODI
In the Clark's Offlee of fee District Court of the District of Connecticut
13. PREFACE
TO THE REVISED EDITION.
In laying before the public a revised edition of this work, the fruit of nearly three years of
care and attention, the editor will be expected to give some brief account of the principles on
which he has conducted the revision, and the results of his labors as exhibited in the present
volume.
The plan of this abridgment, as made under the author's direction in 1829, by Joseph E.
Worcester, Esq., of Cambridge, Mass., is thus stated in the original preface : " The leading
and most important etymologies, as given in the quarto edition, are here retained. The defi-
nitions remain unaltered, except by an occasional compression in their statement. All the sig-
nifications of words as exhibited in the larger work are here retained, but the illustrations and
authorities are generally omitted. In doubtful or con^3sted case?, however, they are carefully
retained." In accordance with this plan, Dr. Webster directed the additions and alterations
of the larger work, in the edition of 1840, to be inserted in this abridgment. This was done at
the time, as far as possible, by means of an appendix ; and is now more perfectly accomplish-
ed by carrying all the improvements then made, into their proper places in the body of the
work. The subsequent improvements of the larger work, down to the period of the author's
death, have also been introduced, in substance, into this edition, under the heads to which they
belong. The present revision has been extended equally to both the works, and the results
have been embodied in each, on the principles stated above, in their due proportion. By theso
successive revisions a very great amount of valuable matter has been added to this abridgment.
It is now made, in all important respects, consistent with the larger work, and is designed to
present, on a reduced scale, a clear, accurate, and full exhibition of the American Dictionary
in all its parts.
One new feature is now added to this volume, by making it a Synonymous Dictionary
Every one engaged in literary composition has felt, at times, the want of such a work ; a work
not intended, like Crabb's, to discriminate nicely between the shades of meaning in similar
terms, but to present, under each of the important words, an extended list of others having the
same general import, out of which a selection may be made according to the exigencies of the
case. Carpenter's Comprehensive Dictionary of English Synonyms was designed to supply
this want, but is far too meager. The only extensive work of this kind is Perry's Synony
mous Dictionary, which is now entirely out of print, and is, likewise, too exclusively synony-
mous, and too much behind the progress of our language, to answer the purposes of a defining
dictionary. An attempt is here made to combine the advantages of Carpenter and Perry with
that fullness and accuracy of definition which are essential, at the present day, in a complete
dictionary of the English language. Under each of the important words, all others having the
same general signification are arranged together, except in cases where they have been previ-
ously exhausted in framing the definitions. This arrangement, it is hoped, will be found of fre-
quent use even to those who are practiced in composition ; while it will afford important aid to
young writers in attaining grace, variety, and copiousness of diction.
The chief value of a dictionary consists in its definitions,—in giving a clear, full, and accurate
exhibition of all the various shades of meaning which belong, by established usage, to the words
of a language. It is in this respect especially, that Dr. Webster's Dictionary has been gener-
ally considered superior to every other, both of this country and of England. To this point,
therefore, the labors of the editor have been mainly directed. No efforts have been spared to
obtain the most recent and valuable works, not only in lexicography, but in the various depart-
ments of science and the arts embraced in the American Dictionary. As these subjects
are in a state of continual progress, every important word, in its various applications, has been
diligently examined and compared with the statements made on each topic by the latest and
most approved authorities. Smart's English Dictionary, in the edition of 1846, has been care-
fully collated with this work, and also the unfinished one in a course of publication by Gilbert,
so far as the numbers have appeared. Reference has, likewise, constantly been made to Rich-
ardson's Dictionary, although this had been previously examined by Dr. Webster, and also to
the Analytical Dictionary of Booth. Each of the articles in Brando's Encyclopedia of Science,
Literature and Art, has been collated with the corresponding portions of this dictionary, as
the starting point, when necessary, of investigation in larger treatises. The Penny Cyelope
dia has been consulted at every step, especially in matters of science ; and the Encyclopedia
Americana (based on the German Conversations- Lexikon) has been relied upon, particularly on
14. ,v PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION.
subjects of continental literature, philosophy, history, arts, &c. In order to secure greater ac
curacy, numerous special dictionaries, or vocabularies confined to some single department, have
also been collated with this work, and the ablest treatises on important branches of science and
art, have been diligently examined. In architecture, the chief reliance has been placed on the
Oxford Glossary oi Architecture (.1815), and the Encyclopedia of Architecture (1842), by
Gwilt. author o( the articles on this subject in Brando's Encyclopedia. In agriculture, Johnson's
Farmer's Encyclopedia (1844), and Gardner's Farmer's Dictionary (1846), have been chiefly
used. In general antiquities, the large treatise of Fosbroke has been frequently consulted,
while in classical antiquities the principal reliance has been placed on the recent dictionary of
Smith (154(5), as a work of the highest authority. In respect to the antiquities of the Church,
the elaborate work of Coleman (1841) has been often referred to; and Hook's Church Dic-
tionary (1541) has been collated throughout, with reference to the rites, ceremonies, vest-
ments, &c., of the Church of England, and also of the Roman Catholic and Greek Churches.
In botany, use has principally been made of the writings of Lindley and Loudon. In natural
history. Partington's British Cyclopedia of Natural History (1835-7) and Jardine's Natural-
ist's -Library (1834-43) have been much consulted, in connection with the articles on this sub-
ject in the Penny Cyclopedia and similar works. In geology, mineralogy, and some associated
branches of natural history, Humble's Dictionary of terms in these departments (1840), has
been compared with this work throughout. In respect to mercantile subjects, banking, coins,
weights, measures, <~c, M'Culloch's Commercial Dictionary (1845) has been collated at every
step, as the standard work on these subjects. In manufactures and tire arts, Dr. Ure's Dictionary
ot' Manufactures, Arts, and Mines, with its Supplement (1845), has been relied upon as of the
highest authority. In engineering and mechanical philosophy, Hebert's Engineer's and Mechan
ic's Cyclopedia (1842) has been carefully collated, and constant reference has been made to the
more popular and recent dictionaries of Francis, Grier, and Buchanan, in the editions of 1846,
In seamauship, the Dictionary of Marine Terms, in Lieut. Totten's Naval Text-book (1841),
has been taken as a guide. In military affairs, the dictionary of Campbell (1844) has been fol-
lowed, in connection with the more extended articles contained in Brande and the Pentry Cy-
clopedia, on the kindred topics. In the fine arts, much use has been made of the dictionary oi
Elmes. In domestic economy, the Encyclopedia of Webster and Parkes on this subject (1844)
has furnished important statements on a great variety of topics, presented for the first time ic
a scientific form ; and to this has been added Cooley's Cyclopedia of Practical Receipts (1846),
as exhibiting much collateral information in respect to the arts, manufactures, and trades.
Such, in general, are the authorities which have been relied on in this revision.
But it is obviously impossible for any one mind to embrace, with accuracy, all the various
departments of knowledge which are now brought within the compass of a dictionary. Hence
arise most of the errors and inconsistencies which abound in works of this kind. To avoid
these as far as possible, especially in matters of science, the editor first made an arrangement
with Dr. James G. Percival, who rendered very important assistance to Dr. Webster in the
edition of 1828, to take the entire charge of revising the scientific articles embraced in this
work. This revision, however, owing to causes beyond the control of either party, was ex-
tended to but little more than two letters of the alphabet ; and the editor then obtained the as-
sistance of his associates in office, and of other gentlemen in various professional employments.
To these he would now return his acknowledgments for the aid they have afforded. The ar-
ticles on law have been collated with Blackstone and Bouvier's Law Dictionary, by the Hon.
Elizur Goodrich, formerly Professor of Law in Yale College, and the errors discovered,
which were few in number, have been carefully corrected. The departments of ecclesiastical
history and ancient philosophy have been thoroughly revised by the Rev. James Murdock,
D.D., late Professor in the Andover Theological Seminary, who has furnished, in many in-
stances, new and valuable definitions. The terms in chemistry have been submitted to Prof.
Silliman, of Yale College, and whatever changes were requisite in the explanations, have been
made under his direction. In the departments of anatomy, physiology, medicine, botany and
some other branches of natural history, Dr. Webster received assistance, in the revision of
1840, from Dr. William Tully, late Professor in the Medical Institution of Yale College.
Still further aid has been received from the same source in the present revision, and much of the
accuracy of the work in these branches, will be found owing to the valuable assistance he has
thus afforded. On topics connected with Oriental literature, aid has frequently been obtained
from Prof. Gibbs, of Yale College. A part of the articles on astronomy, meteorology, and
natural philosophy, in the edition of 1828, passed under the revision of Prof. Olmsted, of Yale
College. This revision has now been extended to all the articles on these subjects throughout
the work, and new definitions have been furnished in numerous instances. The definitions in
mathematics, after having been compared with those given in the dictionaries of Hutton oi
Barlow, have been submitted to Prof. Stanley, of Yale College, and the alterations have in all
«ases been made under his direction. In the sciences of geology and mineralogy, a thorough re-
vision of the whole volume has been made by James D. Dana, Esq., Geologist and Mineralogist
of the United States Exploring Expedition, and associate editor of the American Journal of Sci-
ence and Art, to whom the editor is likewise indebted for assistance on various other subjects
15. PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION. v
which has greatly enhanced the value of the work. In practical astronomy and the science of
entomology, aid has been frequently received from Edward C. Herrick, Esq., Librarian of
Tale College. The articles on painting and the fine arts have, to a great extent, passed under
the inspection of Nathaniel Jocelyn, Esq., Painter, of New Haven, and new definitions
have, in many cases, been furnished.
A correspondence has likewise been carried on with literary friends in England, and espe-
cially with one of the contributors to the Penny Cyclopedia, with a view to obtain information
on certain points, in respect to which nothing definite could be learned from any books within
the reach of the editor. Extended lists of words have been transmitted for examination, and
returned with ample notes and explanations. Much obscurity has thus been removed in re-
gard to the use of terms which have a peculiar sense in England, especially some of frequent
occurrence at the universities, in the circles of trade, and in the familiar intercourse of life.
To the friends who have given their assistance in these various departments, the editor would
return his cordial thanks. Whatever improvement the work may have gained from this revis-
ion in respect to clearness, accuracy, and fullness of definition, is to be ascribed, in a great
degree, to the aid which they have thus afforded.
With regard to the insertion of new words the editor has felt much hesitation and embar-
rassment. Some thousands have been added in the course of this revision, and the number
might have been swelled to many thousands more without the slightest difficulty. There is
at the present day, especially in England, a boldness of innovation on this subject, which
amounts to absolute licentiousness. A hasty introduction into our dictionaries of new terms
under such circumstances, is greatly to be deprecated. Our vocabulary is already encumbered
with a multitude of words which have never formed a permanent part of English literature,
and it is a serious evil to add to their number. Nothing, on the contrary, is so much needed as
a thorough expurgation of our dictionaries in this respect,—the rejection of many thousands of
words which may properly find a place in the glossaries of antiquarians, as a curious exhibition
of what has been proposed, but never adopted, as a part of our language, but which, for that
reason, can have no claim to stand in a dictionary designed for general use. All words, indeed,
which are necessaiy to an understanding of our great writers, such as Bacon, Spenser, Shaks-
peare, &c, ought, though now obsolete, to be carefully retained ; and in the present revision
a considerable number of this class have been introduced for the first time. Other words have
likewise been admitted to a limited extent, namely, the familiar terms of common life in En-
gland, which have been much used of late by popular writers in Great Britain. Many of these
need to be explained for the benefit of readers in this country ; and if marked as "familiar,"
" colloquial," or " low," according to their true character, they may be safely inserted in our
dictionaries, and are entitled to a place there, as forming a constituent part of our written and
spoken language. One of the most difficult questions on this subject, relates to the introduction
of technical and scientific terms. Most of our general dictionaries are at present without any
plan, as to the extent and proportion in which such words should be inserted ; nor can they
ever be reduced to order until each department is revised by men of science, who are intimately
acquainted with the subjects, and who are competent to decide what terms ought to be admit-
ted into a general dictionary, and what terms should be reserved for special dictionaries devoted
to distinct branches of science. Something of this kind, on a limited scale, has been attempted
in the progress of this revision. Lists of words have been obtained from the gentlemen men-
tioned above, which might properly be inserted in this volume, and very few terms of this class
have been admitted except under their direction. In accordance with their advice, a small
number have been excluded, but in this respect the editor has not felt at liberty to carry out his
views in their full extent.
With regard to Americanisms properly so called, it is known to those who are conversant
with the subject, that they are less numerous than has generally been supposed. Most oi
those familiar words, especially of our older states, which have been considered as peculiar to
our country, were brought by our ancestors from Great Britain, and are still in constant use
there, as local terms. The recent investigations of Forby, Holloway, and Halliwell have
thrown much light on this subject, and the names of these authors are, therefore, frequently
placed under the words in question, to indicate their origin and their present use in England.
Notes have also been added to a class of words which are peculiar to our country, but their
number is comparatively small.
In reference to orthography some important alterations have been made, but in strict conform-
ity, it is believed, with the author's principles on this subject. The changes in our orthogra
phy recommended by Dr. Webster, are of two distinct kinds, and rest on very different grounds.
These it may be proper for a moment to consider. His main principle was, that the tenden-
cies of our language to greater simplicity and broader analogies, ought to be watched and cher-
ished with the utmost care. He felt, therefore, that whenever a movement toward wider anal-
ogies and more general rules, had advanced so far as to leave but few exceptions to impede its
progress, those exceptions ought to be set aside at once, and the analogy rendered complete.
On this ground he rejected the u from such words as favour, labour, &c. Of these we have
a large number which came to us, in most cases, from Latin terminations in or, through the
16. #1 PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION.
no-French, but encumbered with siltMit u, as in emperour, authour, editour, &c. From
this e except about twenty words, the 1/ has been gradually dropped ; and in respect
to these scarcely any two persona can be found, however strenuous for retaining it, who are in
asistent with each other or with themselves, as to the words in which this letter
In fact, we have reached a point where, unless we take Webster and the dic-
tionaries which agree with him as our guide, we have no standard on the subject ; for
Johnson, Walker, and others retain the u in numerous words, into which no one would
think of introducing it at die present day. Public convenience, therefore, demands that
m ,
what moat ultimately be done. No one can believe that the progress of
our 1 U be arrested on this subject. The u will speedily be omitted in all words
of th from the sacredness of its associations, it be retained in Saviour, which
mav stand perhaps for a time as a solitary exception. Nor is it Dr. Webster who is the
innovator in this case, but the English mind, which has for two centuries been throwing
off a useless encumbrauce, and moving steadily on toward greater simplicity in the structure
of our language. Such, too, is the case with certain terminations in re pronounced like er, as
e. We have numerous words of this class derived from the French, all of
which originally ended in re, as cider (cidre), chamber (chambre), &c. These have been grad-
ually conformed to the English spelling and pronunciation, till the number in re is reduced to
about fifteen or twenty words with their derivatives, and in respect to them, also, the process is
on. Center is, to a considerable extent, the spelling of the best mathematical writ-
ers.
"
Meter is the word given by Walker in his Rhyming Dictionary, from a sense of the
-
inconsistency of attaching to this word and its derivative, diameter, a different termina-
tion. Others are gradually undergoing the same change. Dr. Webster proposes, therefore,
to complete the analogy at once, and conform the spelling of the few that remain to the general
principles of our language. Acre, lucre, massacre present the only difficulty, from their liability,
if changed, to be mispronounced, and may, therefore, be suffered to stand as necessary excep
tions. "Another departure from the principles of English orthography, which Dr. Webster has
endeavored to correct, is one that was pointed out by Walker in very emphatic terms nearly
fifty years ago. The principle in question is this, that in adding to a word the formatives ing,
ed, er, 6cc, a single consonant (if one precedes) is doubled when the accent falls on the last
syllable, as in forgetting, beginning, &c, but is not doubled when the accent falls on any of the
preceding syllables, as in benefiting, gardening, &c. Walker, in his fifth Aphorism, says,
"Dr. Lowth justly remarks, that an error frequently takes place in the words worshipping,
counselling, &c, which, having the accent on the first syllable, ought to be written worshiping,
counseling. An ignorance of this rule has led many to write bigotted for bigoted, and from
this spelling has frequently arisen a false pronunciation ; but no letter seems to be more fre-
quently doubled improperly than I. Why we should write libelling, levelling, revelling, and
yet offering, suffering, reasoning, I am totally at a loss to determine ; and unless I can give a
better plea than any other letter of the alphabet for being doubled in this situation, I must, in
the style of Lucian in his trial of the letter T, declare for an expulsion." These were the
deliberate and latest opinions of Walker. If he had taken the trouble to carry them into his
vocabulary, instead of relying on a mere remark of this kind for the correction of the error, —if
he had simply stated under about forty verbs how the participles should be spelled (for he did
not give participles in his dictionary), and had altered a few other words, as worshipper into
worshiper, traveller into traveler, &c, the error would probably, by this time, have been wholly
eradicated from our orthography ; and Dr. Webster would have escaped much ignorant vitu-
peration for following in the footsteps of Walker and Lowth. Walker also says, in his Apho-
risms. "Why should we not write dullness, fullness, skillful, willful, as well as stiffness and
gruffness V The principles of our language plainly require us to do so, and Dr. Webster felt
that the change might easily be made. The words which need to be reduced to this analogy
are only about eight in number, including installment and inth?-ailment, which, if spelled with
a single I, are liable to be mispronounced, instalment, &c. Again, the words expense, license,
recompense, which formerly had a c in the last syllable, have now taken an s, because the lat-
ter consonant is the only one used in the derivatives, as expensive, &c. A similar change is
needed in only three words more to complete the analogy, namely, defense, offense, and pre-
tense, and these Dr. Webster has changed. It is sometimes asked, "Why not change fence
also?" For the simple reason that its derivatives are spelled with a c, as fenced, fenc-
ing, and the word, therefore, stands regularly with others of its own class. Finally, Dr
Webster proposes to drop the u in mould and moult, because it has been dropped from
gold and all other words of the same ending. Such are the changes under this head, as
introduced by Dr. Webster into his dictionary. In the present edition, the words are
spelled in both ways for the convenience of the public, except in cases where this seemed
to be unnecessary or was found to be inconvenient. These changes, considering the diffi-
culty that always belongs to such a subject, have met with far more favor from the public
than was reasonably to be expected. Most of them have been extensively adopted in our
tountry. They are gaining ground daily, as the reasons by which they are supported are
more generally understood ; and it is confidently believed that, being founded in established
17. PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION. ^
analogies, and intended merely to repress irregularities and remove petty exceptions, they
must ultimately prevail.
The other class of changes mentioned above rests on a different basis, that of etymology.
These will be estimated very differently, according to the acquaintance of different persons
with the languages from which the words are derived. When Dr. Webster substituted
bridegoom for bridegroom, feiher for feather, &c, the German critics highly applauded the
change. They predicted its speedy and universal reception, because similar improvements
on a much broader scale, had been easily made in their language. But Dr. Webster found the
case to be widely different among us. After an experiment of twelve years, he restored the
old orthography to a considerable number of such words. In the present edition it is restored
to nearly all that remain, from the full conviction that, however desirable these changes may
be in themselves considered, as they do not relate to the general analogies of the language, and
can not be duly appreciated by the body of the people, they will never be generally received.*
On the subject of pronunciation much labor has been bestowed in the progress of this re-
vision. A careful comparison has been made with the latest authorities, and wherever changes
seemed desirable, and could be made in consistency with the author's principles, they have
been here introduced. The key to pronunciation has been somewhat enlarged, and the point-
ed letters have been used to a still greater extent. Many thousand words have been re-spelled,
and no efforts have been spared to render the work, in all respects, a complete pronouncing dic-
tionary. In the progress of these labors, the editor has been frequently struck with the wis-
dom of Dr. Webster in not attempting too much, as to marking the pronunciation. Most 01
the later orthoepists, as Knowles, Smart, &c, have made their system of notation so extensive
and complicated, and have aimed to exhibit so many nice shades of distinction, as in many
cases to perplex rather than aid the inquirer.
The " Synopsis of Words differently pronounced by different Orthoepists," which was pre-
pared by Mr. Worcester for the edition of 1829, has been completely remodeled. Three of
the authorities there used have been rejected, namely, Fulton and Knight, whose work was
never one of much consideration, being a mere school dictionary in Scotland, and Sheridan
and Jones, whose dictionaries are wholly out of use. For these, three others have been sub-
stituted, viz., Knowles, who founded his work on that of Sheridan ; Smart, who may justly
be considered the best exponent of Walker's principles, as modified by the most correct usage
of the present day in England ; and to these has been added Mr. Worcester, whose long-con-
tinued labors on this subject entitle his decisions to high consideration.
" Walker's Key to the Pronunciation of Classical and Scripture Names," which was con-
nected with this dictionary as an appendix, in the edition of 1829, has now been enlarged and
improved. More than three thousand words have been added from a revised edition of the
work by the Rev. W. Trollope, M.A., late of Pembroke College, Cambridge, and the " Clas-
sical Pronunciation of Proper Names," by Thomas S. Carr, of King's College School, Lon-
don. A careful revision of the work has also been made throughout, in reference to the divi-
sion of the words into syllables, &c, in which the editor has derived great assistance from
Prof. Thacher, of Yale College. More than three hundred errors of various kinds have been
discovered and corrected. %
The publishers of this work have been desirous to add to the volume a Vocabulary of Mod-
ern Geographical Words, with their proper pronunciation. They have, accordingly, had one
prepared by an associate editor of Baldwin's Universal Pronouncing Gazetteer, an account
of which will be found in the preface which accompanies the Vocabulary
In conclusion, the editor would acknowledge his obligations to the gentlemen who have aided
him, for more than two years, in these labors, Mr. Samuel W. Barnum, M.A., of Yale Col-
lege, and William G. Webster, Esq., of New Haven. The intimate acquaintance of the latter
with his father's views, has made his counsel and co-operation of great value in the progress ot
this revision.
The editor would also make his acknowledgments to Mr. Peter B. Mead, of New York,
who has superintended the mechanical execution of the work, for many valuable suggestions
which he has made during the progress of the printing, and for the watchful care and assidu
ity with which he has performed the difficult task of securing the accuracy of this volume
Yale College, August, 1847.
* For a more fall and detailed statement of Dr. Webster's orthography as exhibited in this volume see .
page xxiii.
18.
19. CONTENTS
Synopsis of Words differently pronounced by different Orthoepists xi
Orthography of Dr. Webster as exhibited in this Volume . . xxiii
Directions and Explanations . « xxiv
AN AMERICAN DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE . J
ADDENDA.
WALKER'S KEY TO THE CLASSICAL PRONUNCIATION OF GREEK, LATIN, AND
SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES [revised and enlarged] 1
Editor's Preface '
. . . . . . 3
Author's Preface 3
Advertisement to the Second Edition .4
Introduction ........ 5
Rules for Pronouncing Greek and Latin Proper Names .... 9
Initial Vocabulary of Greek and Latin Proper Names .... 13
Terminational Vocabulary of Greek and Latin Proper Names . . 49
Rules for Pronouncing Scripture Proper Names ..... 67
Initial Vocabulary of Scripture Proper Names . . . 69
Terminational Vocabulary of Scripture Proper Names . . . .81.
A VOCABULARY GIVING THE PRONUNCIATION OF MODERN GEOGRAPHICAL
NAMES . . 85
Prefatory Remarks 87
Elements of the Pronunciation of the principal Continental European
Languages ... 91
Explanations and Observations 92
Geographic l Vocabulary 93