First Volume of the Oxford English Dictionary Is Published
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is a seminal work that has played a crucial role in standardizing the English language. The first volume was published on February 1, 1884, marking a significant effort to provide an authoritative resource for spelling, meanings, and usage of words. The project originated in 1857, initiated by the Philological Society of London, which took issue with the inadequate dictionaries of the time. After receiving support from the Oxford University Press in 1879, lexicographer James A. H. Murray led the ambitious project, which aimed to comprehensively document the English language.
Initially intended to be completed within a decade, the undertaking was much larger than anticipated, leading to the decision to publish in segments known as fascicles. Over the next 44 years, the OED expanded from its initial four-volume plan to a monumental 10-volume set, ultimately completed in 1928. The dictionary has undergone numerous updates and revisions to reflect the evolving nature of the English language, including a significant second edition released in 1989 and the first CD-ROM edition in 1992. The OED remains a vital resource for linguists, scholars, and anyone interested in the intricacies of English vocabulary and usage.
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First Volume of the Oxford English Dictionary Is Published
First Volume of the Oxford English Dictionary Is Published
Only in relatively modern times has the English language had any authoritative guide to the correct spelling, multiple meanings, and proper usage of words. Previously what rules existed were simply the customs of the time, with considerable leeway for individual preferences and regional differences. One of the major steps in introducing some measure of consistency and standardization into written and spoken English, and thus making the language easier to learn and understand around the world, was the publication of the Oxford English Dictionary (the OED), now one of the world's leading dictionaries. The first volume was issued on February 1, 1884.
The OED was first conceived in 1857, when the members of the Philological Society of London decided to do something about what passed for “dictionaries” at the time, all of which were deemed to be woefully inadequate. When in 1879 the Oxford University Press agreed to publish the Society's work, James A. H. Murray spearheaded the ambitious attempt to reexamine and systematize the English language. Originally Murray and his coworkers planned to complete a four-volume, 6,400-page work within 10 years. However, by 1884 they had only reached the word “ant” and were forced to reconsider their plans.
Murray and the Society decided to publish the Dictionary in fascicles, or segments, and so the work they had already completed was released as a first volume on February 1, 1884. The project was then expanded for an indefinite term, with the goal of achieving comprehensive coverage rather than prompt publication. Murray expanded his staff, and several other editors joined him in the task of directing the work. Over the next 44 years they produced fascicle after fascicle, finally completing the monumental task in April 1928. From the initial projection of four volumes and 6,400 pages, the Dictionary, when finally published, had grown to 10 volumes containing more than 400,000 entries.
The work was originally titled A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (1928). Almost immediately the task of updating and revising the work began, this time under W. A. Craigie and C. T. Onions, since Murray had died in 1915. English is a constantly changing and evolving language; without updates and revisions a dictionary runs the risk of becoming outdated relatively quickly, and portions of Murray's Dictionary were now more than 40 years old. In 1933 Craigie and Onions published a one-volume supplement, and in that same year the title of the whole work was changed to The Oxford English Dictionary, its title up to the present day.
A second round of updating and revising commenced in 1957, resulting in the production of a second supplement. Containing many new words from English-speaking nations around the world as well as new scientific and technical terms, it was released in four volumes from 1972 until 1986. In 1989 the Dictionary and its supplements were combined in the Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition, consisting of 20 volumes and 22,000 pages. The first CD-ROM edition was released in 1992.
