The Oxford English Dictionary: A Brief History

Abstract

The Oxford English Dictionary (hereafter referred to as the OED) is one of the most well‐known and respected reference works in the world. Its imposing bulk has even led some people to believe incorrectly that it actually lists every word in the English language. Of course, a good number of words were omitted from the distinguished dictionary because they were considered vulgar or because they were American words, categories that were actually somewhat synonymous to certain less tolerant Englishmen of the late nineteenth century.

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“…Language being the complex system that is human communication, is the primary means allowing humans to mutually understand, and collectively produce and disseminate information about the world around us (Hagoort et al, 2004). Throughout human history, language has continued to evolve to and from a multitude of different languages and dialects (Fritze, 1989). Language eventually required scientific study of its own, formally known as linguistics.…”

“…Two circumstances make words and their meanings throughout history considerably ambiguous. The first relates to the origins of language having predated historical records (Fritze, 1989). Certainly, early efforts to compile words into one book were more a product of "guesswork" (Liberman, 1994) than logical deduction.…”

“…English evolved from and is rooted in several other languages, for instance, Germanic, Latin, and Ancient Greek. Dictionaries in Greek and Latin came long before scholars began composing an English dictionary nearing the end of the 16th century (Fritze, 1989).…”