First American Dictionary

From Noah Webster to Merriam-Webster Company celebrates 200th anniversary of First American Dictionary - Springfield, MA., May 2006

It's a milestone year for Merriam-Webster, the American pioneer of language reference publishing. Two hundred years ago the company's namesake Noah Webster created A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language—the very first dictionary to reflect the unique culture and vocabulary of the American people. Along with introducing a reform from British spelling (colour to color; musick to music), the volume included thousands of words (chowder, hickory, skunk) which were in daily use in America, but not listed in any other lexicon. To celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of this first truly "Americanized" dictionary, Merriam-Webster has planned a year-long series of special programs, including a nationwide presentation by the company's president and publisher, John M. Morse. Morse's talk, "Dictionaries and Democracy: 200 Years of Dictionary Making in America," will focus on how Noah Webster and his successors—the brothers George and Charles Merriam—continued throughout the 19th century to maintain the first American dictionary's status as the "quintessential democratic document." Morse will also touch upon how Webster's legacy still resonates in the twenty-first century, as Merriam-Webster continues to lead the way in electronic and online language publishing. "The same convictions that inspired Webster to create the first American dictionary," says Morse, "continue to motivate Merriam-Webster's lexicographers to this day. We now have access to a fully searchable electronic database containing over 60 million words-a vast body of knowledge which allows us to study language in ways Noah Webster never dreamed of." Beginning his tenure at Merriam-Webster in 1980, John Morse's responsibilities as President and Publisher now include all company operations. He continues to be actively involved in the company's editorial process, including the creation of the best-selling Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. A distinguished scholar and engaging speaker, Morse has brought his expertise and love of language to a wide range of regional and local forums throughout the country, and has been seen and heard on a variety of radio and television programs including NPR's Morning Edition, CNBC's Power Lunch, and C-SPAN's BookTV. Merriam-Webster, IncorporatedMerriam-Webster Inc. acquired the rights to revise and publish Noah Webster's dictionaries in 1843. Since then, Merriam-Webster has maintained an ongoing commitment to innovation, scholarship, and love of language. Today, the company continues as the leader in both print and electronic language reference publishing with reference products, learning tools, and word games.