Johnson's Plan of a Dictionary
Poet involved
What happened
In August 1747, Samuel Johnson published The Plan of a Dictionary of the English Language in London, addressed to Philip Dormer, Earl of Chesterfield. This prospectus outlined Johnson's ambitious vision for a comprehensive English dictionary, discussing selection of vocabulary, orthography, pronunciation, etymology, definitions, and the use of citations from authorities. The Plan served as a blueprint for his monumental Dictionary, which would be published eight years later.
Literary impact
Johnson's Plan articulated a vision of lexicography that would shape the course of English literature for generations. His emphasis on illustrative quotations from the best writers established the principle of using literature to document language, a practice that would be central to the OED. The Plan also reflected Johnson's belief in the authority of the writer, a notion that would influence the Romantic poets who sought to assert their own linguistic independence.
Source: Wikipedia
