-
Essays on Americanisms, Perversions of Language in the United States, and Cant Phrases.
Author: Witherspoon, John, D.D.
Philadelphia
"The earliest known work on Americanisms. Originally published as
a series of essays, entitled the Druid, a periodical which appeared in
1761." -
A School Dictionary
Author: Samuel Johnson Jr., a Connecticut schoolmaster
A small dictionary; This book was followed in 1800 by another dictionary, which showed already some signs of Americanization. It included, for instance, words borrowed into English from the Indian languages. -
A compendious dictionary of the English language
Author: Webster, Noah
New-Haven
Includes definitions, the orthography and the pronunciation notes; the tables of the moneys of most of the commercial Nations in the world, with the value expressed in Sterling and Cents; An official List of the post-offices in the US, the tables of weights and measures, ancient and modern, the divisions of time among the Jews, Greeks and Romans, with a Table exhibiting the Roman manner of dating, etc. -
Vocabulary or Collection of Words and Phrases which have been supposed to be peculiar to the United States of America.
Author: Pickering, John.
Boston
"To which is prefixed an Essay on the Present State of the English Lauguage in the United States." -
Webster, Noah. Letter to the Honorable John Pickering on the Subject of his Vocabulary or Collection of Words and Phrases supposed to be peculiar to the United States
Author: Webster, Noah.
Boston -
Gazetteer of the State of Georgia, U.S.
Author: Sherwood, Rev. Adiel
Charleston
"Contains a Glossary of Slang and Vulgar Words, peculiar to the
Southern States. Second edition, Philadelphia, 1829; third edition,
Washington, 1837." -
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Author: Webster, Noah
New York
The one exhibiting the origin, orthography, pronunciation, and definitions of words. -
Dictionary of Americanisms: a Glossary of Words and Phrases usually regarded as peculiar to the United States
Author: Bartlett, John Bussell
New York
1858 - the second edition
1860 - the third edition, greatly enlarged; with Proverbs
and Similes
Boston
"While it fails to notice some notorious Americanisms, admits a number of expressions which are perfectly good English, or, at any rate, perfectly English." -
The Bigelow (Biglow) Tapers, edited, with an introduction, notes, glossary, and copious index, by Homer Wilbur, A.M.
Author: Lowell, James Russell
Cambridge
"Mr. C. A. Bristed, in Cambridge Essays, describes the Glossary as occasionally satirical, but 'mostly in sober earnest'." -
Glossary of supposed Americanisms — Vulgar and Slang Words used in the United States.
Author: Elwyn, Alfred L.
Philadelphia -
Shakspere (Shakespeare) Treasury of Wisdom and Knowledge.
Author: Stearns, С. W., M.D.
New York
"Contains a chapter on Americanisms." -
the English Dialect Society (monoghraphs)
Authors: Members of the English Dialect Society; Editors: Walter W. Skeat, M.A., and J. H. Nodal
London
Includes information about American phrases, dialects and a bibliographical list of works about Americanisms with descriptions. -
The Century Dictionary (and Cyclopedia)
Authors: William D. Whitney, Benjamin E. Smith
New York
An encyclopedic lexicon of the English language; there are twelve volumes, including over 500,000 defined terms, and two volumes of concise encyclopedic entries -
Webster's International Dictionary of the English Language
Editor: Noah Porter
It was an expansion of the American Dictionary. It contained about 175,000 entries. -
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
In addition to its Collegiate editions G. & C. Merriam Co. also produced abridged editions for students (Primary School, Elementary School, Academic, etc.) as well as for general public (Condensed, Practical, Handy). The first edition of the abridged Primary School dictionary was prepared by Noah Webster in 1833.
The series is now in its eleventh edition (from 1898 to 2003); it includes more than 225,000 definitions, more than 165,000 entries; a CD-ROM of the text is sometimes included. -
W2 or "Webster's Second" or Webster's New International Dictionary (second edition)
Editors: William Allan Neilson, Thomas A. Knott
The editors claimed more than 600,000 entries, more than any other dictionary at that time, but that number included many proper names and newly added lists of undefined "combination words". Multiple definitions of words are listed in chronological order, with the oldest, and often obsolete, usages listed first. The numerous picture plates added to the book's appeal and usefulness -
Webster’s New International Dictionary of the English Language
Editors: William Allan Neilson, Thomas A. Knott, Paul W. Carhart
Springfield
The Merriam Company issued a complete revision of Webster's International Dictionary in 1909; vastly expanded, it covered more than 400,000 entries, and double the number of illustrations -
W3 or "Webster's Third" or Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language
The largest, most comprehensive American dictionary; there are 2,816 pages in it
It offers 476,000 entries, including an expanded and updated Addenda Section of new words and meanings; there are 3,000 illustrations and 140,000 etymologies.