Comments on: In praise of Dr Johnson – a modern lexicographer http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/dr-johnson-a-modern-lexicographer Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:58:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Sue Bale http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/dr-johnson-a-modern-lexicographer/comment-page-1#comment-615 Sue Bale Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:43:13 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=1946#comment-615 In an entertaining book called <em>Dr Johnson's Dictionary</em>, (c) Henry Hitchings, 2005, published by John Murray, there is a short list of words that have radically changed in meaning since 1775. This is how Dr Johnson defined a few of them then: <a href="http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/choppy" rel="nofollow"><strong>choppy</strong></a> full of holes, clefts or cracks <a href="http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/cruise" rel="nofollow"><strong>cruise</strong></a> a small cup <a href="http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/fake_11" rel="nofollow"><strong>fake</strong></a> a coil of rope <a href="http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/paddock" rel="nofollow"><strong>paddock</strong></a> a great frog or toad <a href="http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/pompous" rel="nofollow"><strong>pompous</strong></a> splendid; magnificent; grand <a href="http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/recipe" rel="nofollow"><strong>recipe</strong></a> a medical prescription <a href="http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/sinus" rel="nofollow"><strong>sinus</strong></a> a bay of the sea; an opening of the land Lastly, if you think the word <a href="http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/jogger" rel="nofollow"><strong>jogger</strong></a> suggests an image of healthy living, this is Dr Johnson's definition: one who moves heavily and dully. In an entertaining book called Dr Johnson’s Dictionary, (c) Henry Hitchings, 2005, published by John Murray, there is a short list of words that have radically changed in meaning since 1775. This is how Dr Johnson defined a few of them then:

choppy full of holes, clefts or cracks
cruise a small cup
fake a coil of rope
paddock a great frog or toad
pompous splendid; magnificent; grand
recipe a medical prescription
sinus a bay of the sea; an opening of the land

Lastly, if you think the word jogger suggests an image of healthy living, this is Dr Johnson’s definition: one who moves heavily and dully.

]]> By: In praise of Doctor Johnson « Aliceyuyenchang’s Weblog http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/dr-johnson-a-modern-lexicographer/comment-page-1#comment-614 In praise of Doctor Johnson « Aliceyuyenchang’s Weblog Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:12:42 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=1946#comment-614 [...] In praise of Doctor Johnson September 24, 2009 Alice Leave a comment Go to comments http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/dr-johnson-a-modern-lexicographer/ [...] [...] In praise of Doctor Johnson September 24, 2009 Alice Leave a comment Go to comments http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/dr-johnson-a-modern-lexicographer/ [...]

]]> By: Andrew Delahunty http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/dr-johnson-a-modern-lexicographer/comment-page-1#comment-613 Andrew Delahunty Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:47:15 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=1946#comment-613 Yes, what a stupendous achievement it is. I had a very enjoyable time on Friday afternoon leafing through the 1773 edition of Johnson’s Dictionary at Birmingham Central Library, which is currently holding a small Johnson exhibition to mark the tercentenary. Like Michael I’m a lexicographer, and it is a thrilling and humbling experience to have a close encounter with the two hefty folio volumes of this famous dictionary. Yes, what a stupendous achievement it is. I had a very enjoyable time on Friday afternoon leafing through the 1773 edition of Johnson’s Dictionary at Birmingham Central Library, which is currently holding a small Johnson exhibition to mark the tercentenary. Like Michael I’m a lexicographer, and it is a thrilling and humbling experience to have a close encounter with the two hefty folio volumes of this famous dictionary.

]]> By: Terminologia etc. » » Dr Johnson http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/dr-johnson-a-modern-lexicographer/comment-page-1#comment-612 Terminologia etc. » » Dr Johnson Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:20:03 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=1946#comment-612 [...] In Macmillan Dictionary Blog, In praise of Dr Johnson – a modern lexicographer; [...] [...] In Macmillan Dictionary Blog, In praise of Dr Johnson – a modern lexicographer; [...]

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