From: me@yahoo.com   
      
   On 2024-10-16 09:30:04 +0000, Ross Clark said:   
      
   > "National" here is American. And the day is the birthday of Noah   
   > Webster (16/10/1758-28/5/1843). Author of the "National Dictionary".   
   > Actually called The American Dictionary of the English Language.   
   > Published 1828. 25 years in the making, 2,000 pages, 70,000 entries.   
   > Price $20.00.   
   >   
   > "A great number of words in our language require to be defined in a   
   > phraseology accommodated to the condition and institutions of the   
   > people in these states, and the people of England must look to an   
   > American Dictionary for a correct understanding of such terms."   
   > (from the Preface)   
   >   
   > This almost reads like a claim that the American senses are the correct   
   > ones. But I think he is taking the much more reasonable position that   
   > where UK and US usage diverge, if UK speakers want to know about the US   
   > usage, it makes sense for them to consult an American dictionary.   
   >   
   > Webster's first big success was a Spelling Book (1783), which sold and   
   > sold for decades, and made him a household (or schoolroom) name. He had   
   > some good ideas about improved spelling, several of which have become   
   > standard for USEng.   
      
   Others of which have not: "Noah Webster's assertion in his 1828   
   dictionary—'Our common orthography is incorrect; the true spelling is   
   tung'" hasn't stood the test of time.   
   >   
   > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Webster   
   > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webster%27s_Dictionary   
      
      
   --   
   Athel -- French and British, living in Marseilles for 37 years; mainly   
   in England until 1987.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)