The birth and evolution of the Oxford English Dictionary
You may be using dictionaries less frequently now, as we have more help available online. However, about two decades back, dictionary was the only resource for discovering word meanings. Which name pops up on your mind when you think of a dictionary? The answer is a no-brainer: Oxford English Dictionary (OED). Let us find out how the Oxford English Dictionary was born.
A shaky start
Before the 19th century, the only English dictionary that existed was the only one published by English author, poet and playwright named Samuel Johnson in 1755. Now, fast forward to 1857, when members of the London Philological Society gathered as the Dean of Westminster University, London, Richard Trench argued that Britain required a worthy dictionary. Soon after, they kickstarted the collection of materials. But little did they know then that it would be much more difficult and time consuming than expected!
The dictionary’s start was indeed a shaky one. The project’s first editor unexpectedly passed away. The second spent most of his time visiting England’s casinos and riding bicycles rather than working on the dictionary. It was only in 1879 that the London Philological Society made an agreement with the Oxford University Press and the project genuinely took off. This is when a school teacher and philologist named James Murray took over as editor.
Enter James Murray
The plan was to make a four-volume dictionary with 6,400 pages that would cover all words used in the English language from the Early Middle English period (1150 AD) onwards. The project was expected to be completed in 10 years or less. But it was going to take a lot more time! This is because the English language is not only complex but also constantly changes. While documenting the past seven centuries of the language’s evolution, Murray and his colleagues kept track of new words and meanings for existing terms. Finally, they published the first volume of the dictionary in 1884 under the name New English Dictionary. It spanned through 352 pages and sold 4,000 copies.
A psychiatric patient and the Oxford English Dictionary
William Minor, an American army surgeon, developed severe dementia and paranoia after the American Civil War (1861–1865). Hoping that a change of climate would improve his condition, he went to London. Out of paranoia, he ended up shooting George Merrett, a civilian, mistaking him to be a robber. As a result, Minor was detained and taken to a psychiatric hospital in Crowthorne. But thanks to his army pension and excellent behaviour, he was given a room and was allowed to buy books. Eventually, he learned about Murray and his project of the dictionary and decided to help him. Minor started sending Murray passages that described the amazing voyage of several hundred words through history. He recorded passages on paper and listed words in an alphabetical order. For over 20 years, Minor would send Murray this information each week! Because of his contribution, the Oxford English Dictionary was saved from missing over four centuries of word origins. Eventually, Murray eventually met Minor in 1891 in his mental ward.
Oxford English Dictionary is born
By this time, Murray was not alone. His staff, including lexicographers (people who compile a dictionary) such as Henry Bradley, W.A. Craigie and C.T. Onions, consistently turned out word after word. Finally, their hard work paid off and the last volume of the New English Dictionary was issued in April 1928. It had almost 400,000 words and phrases in 10 volumes instead of 6,400 pages in four! Five years down the line, in 1933, it was reprinted with 12 volumes plus a supplement, and renamed the as Oxford English Dictionary. It took another six years to expand it to 20 volumes.