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Johnson's Dictionary Online
@sjdictionary.bsky.social
440 followers 46 following 210 posts
Site features, announcements, vocabulary, observations-- from the team of the NEH-funded Johnson's Dictionary Online. RT does not imply endorsement. Also on 🧵. johnsonsdictionaryonline.com
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merriam-webster.com
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
October 1, 2025 at 2:38 PM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
Fi'reship. n.s. [fire and ship.] A ship filled with combustible matter to fire the vessels of the enemy.

johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/fireshi...
November 14, 2025 at 2:45 PM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
Fra'udulence.
Fra'udulency. n.s. [fraudulentia, Latin.] Deceitfulness; trickishness; proneness to artifice.

johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/fraudul...
November 13, 2025 at 6:03 PM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
"Call it the paradox of the modern dictionary. We’re in a golden age for the study and appreciation of words ... But these advances are also strangling the business of the dictionary. "
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
Is This the End of the Dictionary?
Obsolete (adj.): no longer in use or no longer useful
www.theatlantic.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
Ha'ndvice. n.s. [hand and vice.] A vice to hold small work in.
Moxon’s Mech. Exer.
johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/handvic...
November 11, 2025 at 2:30 PM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
Ru'bricated. adj. [from rubrica, Lat.] Smeared with red.
johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/rubrica...
November 10, 2025 at 5:05 PM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
Pi'cklock. n.s. [pick and lock.]
1. An instrument by which locks are opened without the key.
2. The person who picks locks.

johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/pickloc...
November 6, 2025 at 6:05 PM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
This conversation...looks at Samuel Johnson as the cathartic figure whose lexicographic work shaped modern English dictionaries.
lithub.com/how-to-build...
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…
lithub.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:05 PM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
To Gargari'ze. v.a. [γαϱγαϱίζω; gargariser, French.] To wash the mouth with medicated liquors.

johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/gargari...
November 4, 2025 at 4:05 PM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
Ma'nnikin. n.s.
[man and klein, German.]
A little man; a dwarf.
johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/manniki...
November 3, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by Johnson's Dictionary Online
drjohnsonshouse.bsky.social
GHOST. n.s. [gast, Saxon.]

1. The soul of man.

2. A spirit appearing after death.

In 1762, the Cock Lane Ghost supposedly haunted a young girl in London. Even Dr Johnson investigated—but was it a restless spirit or something more mysterious?👻

www.drjohnsonshouse.org/post/the-coc...
A close-up of a page from Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language, showing the entry for “GHOST,” defined as “The soul of man,” with examples of its use in poetry.
October 31, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Reposted by Johnson's Dictionary Online
ianvisits.co.uk
The historic Dr Johnson’s House in the City, home to the famous dictionary writer, is to start opening on Sundays for a few months to make it easier to visit at weekends.

www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/sun...
Sundays with Dr Johnson: Historic house opens for weekend visitors
The historic Dr Johnson’s House in the City, home to the famous dictionary writer, is to start opening on Sundays for a few months to make it easier to visit at weekends.
www.ianvisits.co.uk
October 24, 2025 at 1:50 PM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
Jack with a Lantern. An ignis fatuus.
johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/jack_wi...
October 31, 2025 at 4:04 PM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
Seafa'rer. n.s. [sea and fare.] A traveller by sea; a mariner.

johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/seafare...
October 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
Newfa'ngledness.
Newfan'gleness. n.s. [from newfangled.] Vain and foolish love of novelty.
johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/newfang...
October 29, 2025 at 1:15 PM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
Unco'nquerable. adj. Not to be subdued; insuperable; not to be overcome; invincible.

johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1755/unconqu...
October 28, 2025 at 3:05 PM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
Check out the September 2025 issue of the Johnsonian News Letter, featuring a guide to searching the Johnson’s Dictionary Online website, an article on Johnson’s interactions with fair sex during his 1773 tour of Scotland, and more.
johnsoniannewsletter.org/archive/
October 27, 2025 at 5:29 PM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
Today in words you might not expect to find in an 18th century dictionary: "Jogger, n.s. [from jog.] One who moves heavily and dully.
They, with their fellow joggers of the plough. - Dryden."
johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/jogger_ns
October 27, 2025 at 4:13 AM
sjdictionary.bsky.social
lard, n.s.
1. The grease of swine.
2. Bacon; the flesh of swine.

johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/1773/lard_ns
October 25, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Reposted by Johnson's Dictionary Online
outlived.org
Died #otd Samuel Johnson, English poet and lexicographer, 240 years ago today #SamuelJohnson https://www.outlived.org/person/samuel-johnson-47333
Samuel Johnson
December 13, 2024 at 7:45 AM
Reposted by Johnson's Dictionary Online
georgianlords.bsky.social
Samuel Johnson, lexicographer and writer, died #OnThisDay 1784. His final words were 'iam moriturus'.
In his dictionary Johnson defined death as:
"The extinction of life; the departure of the soul from the body"
johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search...
#skystorians
December 13, 2024 at 9:05 AM
Reposted by Johnson's Dictionary Online
leightonlibrary.bsky.social
Day 13 of #AdventCalendar for Dunblane's historic Leighton Library

Leighton Library has 2nd edition of 1755/6 of "A Dictionary of the English Language" by Samuel Johnson, who died #OnThisDay 1784. This was plot-line for episode of TV comedy series "Blackadder the Third" youtu.be/PuDquo76490
…/👇
Christmas wreath made entirely of books Dr Samuel Johnson with a page from from the dictionary he compiled
December 13, 2024 at 9:14 AM
Reposted by Johnson's Dictionary Online
drsimont.bsky.social
Today the church also remembers Samuel Johnson. Remembered for his dictionary and as a moralist, he was a faithful high Anglican and supporter of the CofE.
December 13, 2024 at 9:19 AM
Reposted by Johnson's Dictionary Online
upstart-english.bsky.social
I'm sure I owe Samuel Johnson more than mentally leaping to the glorious episode of Blackadder which deals with his dictionary ... but once seen, never forgotten!

Cat = "not a dog" 😂

#books #literature #booksky #englishliterature #alevelengishliterature #literature #englishtutor #englishtuition
On the left, a bottle of wine nestles in an arrangement of grapes, a vine leaf, and a glass of red wine. Underneath to the left is a portrait of Samuel Johnson reading a book. Bottom right corner is the brand icon for Upstart English Tuition: a black crow in a mustard yellow circle.
December 13, 2024 at 12:14 PM
Reposted by Johnson's Dictionary Online
rboomhower.bsky.social
"You can never be wise unless you love reading."
Samuel Johnson
December 13, 2024 at 1:47 PM