Word Meaning in the Preface to A Dictionary of the English Language Quiz

Read the sentence from Samuel Johnson's preface to A Dictionary of the English Language. And such is the fate of hapless lexicography, that not only darkness, but light, impedes and distresses it; things may be not only too little, but too much known, to be happily illustrated.

What is the best definition of the underlined word as it is used in the sentence? unlucky or unfortunate; pitiable

Which words have positive connotations? Check all that apply.

luxurious elegant fashionable

At the time of its publication, A Dictionary of the English Language was unique because of its ____________.

quotations

Which statements describe Samuel Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language? Check all that apply.

It includes over forty thousand definitions. It includes information about word origins. It offers excerpted examples of the words in literature.

Read the excerpt from Samuel Johnson's preface to A Dictionary of the English Language. But to COLLECT the WORDS of our language was a task of greater difficulty: the deficiency of dictionaries was immediately apparent; and when they were exhausted, what was yet wanting must be sought by fortuitous and unguided excursions into books, and gleaned as industry should find, or chance should offer it, in the boundless chaos of a living speech. My search, however, has been either skilful or lucky; for I have much augmented the vocabulary.

The excerpt claims that Johnson's work is significant because he... searched literature and found more words.

Read the excerpt from Samuel Johnson's preface to A Dictionary of the English Language. The solution of all difficulties, and the supply of all defects, must be sought in the examples, subjoined to the various senses of each word, and ranged according to the time of their authours. When first I collected these authorities, I was desirous that every quotation should be useful to some other end than the illustration of a word; I therefore extracted from philosophers principles of science; from historians remarkable facts; from chymists complete processes; from divines striking exhortations; and from poets beautiful descriptions.

The excerpt suggests that Johnson's work is significant because it... reflects considerable literary research.

Read the excerpts from Samuel Johnson's preface to A Dictionary of the English Language. Thus have I laboured by settling the orthography, displaying the analogy, regulating the structures, and ascertaining the signification of English words, to perform all the parts of a faithful lexicographer: but I have not always executed my own scheme, or satisfied my own expectations.

The underlined word emerges as a key term in the preface because Johnson... strives to emphasize the effort his dictionary required.

Read the sentence from Samuel Johnson's preface to A Dictionary of the English Language. Wherever I turned my view, there was perplexity to be disentangled, and confusion to be regulated; choice was to be made out of boundless variety.

Which word in the sentence helps readers determine the meaning of the word perplexity? disentangled

Read the sentence from Samuel Johnson's preface to A Dictionary of the English Language. I have studiously endeavoured to collect examples and authorities from the writers before the restoration, whose works I regard as the wells of English undefiled, as the pure sources of genuine diction.

Which words in the sentence help readers determine the meaning of the word undefiled? pure, genuine

Read the excerpts from Samuel Johnson's preface to A Dictionary of the English Language. In both excerpts, the word structure refers to the...

components, or parts, of words.