Johnson's Dictionary Online

Local historian creates special pin badges featuring famous Lichfield figure - Lichfield Live® Pin badges featuring an image of one of Lichfield's most famous sons have been made available.

"PIN badges featuring an image of one of Lichfield’s most famous sons have been made available. The Samuel Johnson items have been donated to the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum by local historian Jono Oates."
lichfieldlive.co.uk/2026/02/15/l...

To CANCEL. v.a. [canceller, Fr. from cancellis notare, to mark with cross lines.]
1. To cross a writing.
2. To efface; to obliterate in general.
johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/cancel_va

Musically. adv. [from musical.] Harmoniously; with sweet sound.

Valentine, musically coy,
Shun’d Phædra’s arms.
Addison.
johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/musical...

Audible launches Wuthering Heights spin-off Heathcliff Audible, a provider of spoken word entertainment, has announced their new audio production, Heathcliff’, produced with Brock Media. The Audible Original retur

"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

A compendious dictionary of the English language : Noah Webster : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive A compendious dictionary of the English language. In which five thousand words are added to the number found in the best English compends; the orthography is,...

Webster's 1806 is in the Internet Archive: archive.org/details/comp... (Alas webstersdictionaryonline.com is not yet online)

johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/chark_va

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...

How to Build a Dictionary: On the Hard Art of Popular Lexicography At the end of the first quarter of the twenty-first century, about 400 million people are native English speakers. With those for whom English is a second language, the number reaches far above: betw…

"[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...