Musically. adv. [from musical.] Harmoniously; with sweet sound. Valentine, musically coy, Shun’d Phædra’s arms. Addison. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/musical...

"With Cathy’s rejection burning hot in his ears, Heathcliff flees the moors and arrives in London, seeking distraction and oblivion. There he is rescued by Sir Francis Barber, the Black adopted son of Samuel Johnson who urges him to forge his own path." www.advanced-television.com/2026/02/12/a...

SUPERSTITION. n.s. [superstition, Fr. superstitio, Latin.] 1. Unnecessary fear or scruples in religion; observance of unnecessary and uncommanded rites or practices; religion without morality... johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/superst...

The [Jeopardy] clue read, “Self-effacing Sam defined this, his occupation at the time, as ‘a harmless drudge, that busies himself in tracing’ words.” www.postguam.com/lifestyles/e... johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/lexicog...

Ansated. adj. [ansatus, Lat.] Having handles; or something in the form of handles. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/ansated...

Altigrade. adj. [from altus and gradior, Lat.] Rising on high. Dict. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/altigra...

Mussitation. n.s. [mussito, Lat.] Murmur; grumble. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/mussita...

Protracter. n.s. [from protract.] 1. One who draws out any thing to tedious length. 2. A mathematical instrument for taking and measuring angles. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/protrac...

Tardigradous. adj. [tardigradus, Lat.] Moving slowly. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/tardigr...

To FARCE. v.a. [farcio, Latin; farcir, French.] 1. To stuff; to fill with mingled ingredients. 2. To extend; to swell out. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/farce_va

Salpicon. n.s. [In cookery.] A kind of farce put into holes cut in legs of beef, veal, or mutton. Bailey. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/salpico...

Asp. Aspick. n.s. [aspis, Lat.] A kind of serpent, whose poison kills without a possibility of applying any remedy... johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/aspick_...

Onycha. n.s. It is found in two different senses in scripture. —— The odoriferous snail or shell, and the stone onyx... johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/onycha_ns

Dazied. adj. [rather dasied. See Daisy.] Besprinkled with daisies. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/dazied_...

Lambative. n.s. A medicine taken by licking with the tongue. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/lambati...

Fe'bruary. n.s. [februarius, Latin] The name of the second month in the year. You have such a February face, So full of frost, of storm, and cloudiness? Shakespeare. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/februar...

Rollypooly. n.s. A sort of game, in which, when a ball rolls into a certain place, it wins. A corruption of roll ball into the pool. Let us begin some diversion; what d’ye think of roulypouly or a country dance? Arbuthnot’s History of John Bull. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/rollypo...

"I HAVE been dipping again into odd issues of Dr Johnson’s first magazine, The Rambler, which never fails to offer some worthwhile insight, and is often strikingly relevant to our life..." www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...

Sorcerer. n.s. [sorcier, French; sortiarius, low Latin.] A conjurer; an enchanter; a magician. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/sorcere...

Aurelia. n.s. [Lat.] A term used for the first apparent change of the eruca, or maggot of any species of insects. Chambers. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/aurelia...

What is a Slubberdegullion or Jabbernowl? Insults defined in Samuel Johnson’s great dictionary. Hear about these strange words in our life of Dr Johnson Podcast: tinyurl.com/r6x2d9m7 #history #literature #engllsh #dictionary #englishlanguage

Vaivode. n.s. [waiwod, a governor, Sclavonian.] A prince of the Dacian provinces. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/vaivode...

Sharp-set. adj. [sharp and set.] 1. Hungry; ravenous. 2. Eager; vehemently desirous. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/sharp-s...

"[This conversation] looks at Samuel Johnson as the cathartic figure whose lexicographic work shaped modern English dictionaries." lithub.com/how-to-build...

THORN. n.s. [thaurns, Gothick; ðorn, Saxon; doorne, Dutch.] 1. A prickly tree of several kinds. 2. A prickle growing on the thorn bush. 3. Any thing troublesome. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/thorn_ns

Dominical. adj. [dominicalis, Latin.] That which notes the Lord’s day, or Sunday. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/dominic...

Lismore said his favorite part of the trip was going to the house of Samuel Johnson, who Lismore said was a famous 18th century writer who wrote “probably the first true English dictionary as we think of it today.” evdiomessage.org/lismore-trip...

Neatness. n.s. [from neat.] 1. Spruceness; elegance without dignity. Pelagius carped at the curious neatness of men’s apparel. Hooker, b. v. s. 29. 2. Cleanliness. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/neatnes...

"Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language, published in London in 1755, carved out a role for the dictionary: to establish what would become known as Standard English. Johnson himself was aware that language is a living thing, always in flux.... www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

To Egg. v.a. [eggia, to incite, Islandick; eggian, Saxon.] To incite; to instigate; to provoke to action. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/egg_va

To Moot. v.a. [from motian, mot, gemot, meeting together, Saxon, or perhaps, as it is a law term, from mot, French.] To plead a mock cause; to state a point of law by way of exercise, as was commonly done in the inns of court at appointed times. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/moot_va

"English Lit is for Losers... And it's not just the characters who fail. Samuel Johnson offered a lament for the whole English language. And it's not just the characters who fail. Samuel Johnson offered a lament for the whole English language...." www.nationalaffairs.com/publications...

Crawfish. n.s. [sometimes written crayfish, properly crevice; in French ecrevisse.] A small crustaceous fish found in brooks; the small lobster of fresh water. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/crawfis...

"Christopher Boyle, a barrister, has selected a two-volume 18th-century edition of Samuel Johnson’s dictionary for the sale. “It’s a very Georgian thing, and this is a two-volume copy from 1785,” he says." www.thetimes.com/life-style/p...

Strawcoloured. adj. [straw and colour.] Of a light yellow. I will discharge it in your strawcolour’d beard. Shakespeare. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/strawco...

To Slock. v.n. [slock, to quench, Swedish and Scottish] To slake; to quench. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/slock_vn

Substraction. n.s. [soubstraire, soubstraction, Fr.] 1. The act of taking away part from the whole. 2. [In arithmetick.] The taking of a lesser number out of a greater of like kind, whereby to find out a third number . . . johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/substra...

Subtraction. n.s. See Substraction. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/subtrac...

Groin. n.s. [Of uncertain derivation.] The part next the thigh. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/groin_ns

Confutable. adj. [from confute.] Possible to be disproved; possible to be shewn false. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/confuta...

To Pop. v.a. 1. To put out or in suddenly, slily or unexpectedly. 2. To shift. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/pop_va

To Throne, v.a. [from the noun.] To enthrone; to set on a royal seat. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/throne_va

Dictionaries *are* fun. When I grow up, I want to read Johnson's English dictionary from cover to cover. It sounds wonderful.

An example of how individuals can shape spelling (that I wish I'd included in my book) is 'ache'. It was historically spelled 'ake', but because Dr Johnson and others thought (reasonably but incorrectly) that it came from Greek, its spelling shifted to a Greek CH (like 'chronic', 'school') instead.

Samuel Johnson—the man, the Dictionary, and the rare books that shaped his legacy. @GrammarGirl.bsky.social talks with Harvard curator John Overholt about Johnson's eclectic life and why even 'unremarkable' items deserve to be preserved. youtu.be/-ot4tHoUmnQ?...

Unearthly. adj. Not terrestrial. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/unearth...

Tenter. n.s. [tendo, tentus, Lat.] 1. A hook on which things are stretched. 2. To be on the Tenters. To be on the stretch; to be in difficulties; to be in suspense. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/tenter_ns

Sip. n.s. [from the verb.] A small draught; as much as the mouth will hold. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/sip_ns

Lawn. n.s. [land, Danish; lawn, Welsh; lande, French.] 1. An open space between woods. 2. [Linon, French.] Fine linen, remarkable for being used in the sleeves of bishops. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/lawn_ns

Unaiming. adj. Having no particular direction. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/unaimin...