The Story of Webster's Third
Philip Gove's Controversial Dictionary and its Critics

This is the first full account of the controversy surrounding the publication of Webster's Third New International Dictionary in 1961.

Herbert C. Morton (Author)

9780521558693, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 26 May 1995

360 pages, 16 b/w illus.
22.7 x 15 x 2.3 cm, 0.522 kg

"Only rarely has the process of lexicography been given such insightful and understanding treatment by a non-lexicographer as we find in Morton's book." Sharp News

The publication of Webster's Third New International Dictionary in 1961 set off a storm of controversy in both the popular press and in scholarly journals that was virtually unprecedented in its scope and intensity. This is the first full account of the controversy, set within the larger background of how the dictionary was planned and put together by its editor-in-chief, Philip Babcock Gove. Based on original research and interviews with the people who knew and worked with Gove, this is a human story as well as the story of the making of a dictionary. The author skilfully interweaves an account of Gove's character and working habits with the evolution of the dictionary. The reception given Webster's Third - now widely regarded as one of the greatest dictionaries of our time - illuminates public misconceptions about language and the role of dictionaries.

1. The best of times and the worst: a prologue
Part I. Philip Gove and the Genesis of Webster's Third: 2. Gove's formative years: the road to Springfield
3. The Webster and Merriam tradition
4. The new editor takes hold
Part II. The Making of the Dictionary: Gove's Intentions: 5. The meaning of words: definers at work
6. The origins of words: the etymologist's task
7. The sound of words and other matters
8. Usage and final tasks
Part III. The War of Words: 9. Early Returns: the fuse is lit
10. The controversy heats up
11. 1962: calamity or calumny?
12. Commercial intrusions: trademarks, takeover threats, competition
13. Ideology and politics in the running debate
14. The judgment of peers
Part IV. Sorting it All Out: 15. Gove and Webster's Third: the legacy
16. Concluding words.

Subject Areas: Lexicography [CFM]