Re: National Dictionary Day (16 October)

On 20/10/2024 9:18 a.m., Christian Weisgerber wrote:

On 2024-10-16, Ross Clark <benlizro@ihug.co.nz> wrote:
 

"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.

 I'm positive I've seen a Webster's Dictionary of the American (!)
Language somewhere.  I thought Noah Webster himself started this,
but apparently I was mistaken.
 ... Okay, it's _Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language_
and Wikipedia informs me that this is an independent work, wholly
unrelated to that of Webster himself.  Sorry, Noah.
 

I remember being told this long ago, that Webster was unable to trademark his name, or the right lapsed after his death or some such, so that 20th century dictionaries with "Webster" in the title might have no connection whatsoever to Noah's work. That some people continued this deceptive practice is an indication of how much NW had been identified with the idea of a "definitive dictionary".