Noah Webster Handwritten Dictionary Draft Page: "Blockish" through "Bloodless"
Handwritten draft page from Webster's landmark American Dictionary of the English Language
Author and lexicographer (1758–1843) who published the first comprehensive dictionary of American English. Unsigned handwritten manuscript by Noah Webster, one page both sides, 7.75 x 10, being a fragment from a manuscript draft for the "B" section of his historic dictionary, in which Webster defines "Blockish" through "Bloodless." The lengthiest entry is for "Blood," which carries a thirteen-part definition, in part: "1. The red fluid which circulates through the vessels of the human body, & of the larger animals, which is essential to the preservation of life. If the fluid of an animal is not red, such animal is called exsanguinous. 2. Kindred; relation by natural descent from a common ancestor; consanguinity. 'God hath made of one blood all nations of the earth'…8. Fleshly nature, the carnal part of man; as opposed to spiritual nature or divine life…10. A sacramental symbol of the blood of Christ. 'This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for the remission of sins'…11. The death & sufferings of Christ. 'Being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him'…Temper of mind; state of passions; but in this sense, accompanied with 'cold' or 'warm,' or other qualifying word—as to commit an act in cold blood, is to do it deliberately & without sudden passion." Framed with glass on both sides to an overall size of 9.5 x 11.75. In fine condition, with a small, easily repaired detached piece to the upper right corner.
Webster published his first dictionary in 1806, entitled A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language. This he followed by compiling an expanded, comprehensive dictionary that also traced the etymology of words-this, called An American Dictionary of the English Language, took 26 years to complete; in the final version, the entry for "Blood" was expanded to fifteen definitions.
Handwritten draft page from Webster's landmark American Dictionary of the English Language
Author and lexicographer (1758–1843) who published the first comprehensive dictionary of American English. Unsigned handwritten manuscript by Noah Webster, one page both sides, 7.75 x 10, being a fragment from a manuscript draft for the "B" section of his historic dictionary, in which Webster defines "Blockish" through "Bloodless." The lengthiest entry is for "Blood," which carries a thirteen-part definition, in part: "1. The red fluid which circulates through the vessels of the human body, & of the larger animals, which is essential to the preservation of life. If the fluid of an animal is not red, such animal is called exsanguinous. 2. Kindred; relation by natural descent from a common ancestor; consanguinity. 'God hath made of one blood all nations of the earth'…8. Fleshly nature, the carnal part of man; as opposed to spiritual nature or divine life…10. A sacramental symbol of the blood of Christ. 'This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for the remission of sins'…11. The death & sufferings of Christ. 'Being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him'…Temper of mind; state of passions; but in this sense, accompanied with 'cold' or 'warm,' or other qualifying word—as to commit an act in cold blood, is to do it deliberately & without sudden passion." Framed with glass on both sides to an overall size of 9.5 x 11.75. In fine condition, with a small, easily repaired detached piece to the upper right corner.
Webster published his first dictionary in 1806, entitled A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language. This he followed by compiling an expanded, comprehensive dictionary that also traced the etymology of words-this, called An American Dictionary of the English Language, took 26 years to complete; in the final version, the entry for "Blood" was expanded to fifteen definitions.
