The Works of Samuel Johnson in Nine Volumes | Page 7

to make presents, to make a doubt, to make out
an assertion, to make good a breach, to make good a cause, to make
nothing of an attempt, to make lamentation, to make a merit, and many
others which will occur in reading with that view, and which only their
frequency hinders from being generally remarked.
The great labour is yet to come, the labour of interpreting these words
and phrases with brevity, fulness, and perspicuity; a task of which the
extent and intricacy is sufficiently shown by the miscarriage of those
who have generally attempted it. This difficulty is increased by the
necessity of explaining the words in the same language; for there is
often only one word for one idea; and though it be easy to translate the

words _bright, sweet, salt, bitter_, into another language, it is not easy
to explain them.
With regard to the interpretation, many other questions have required
consideration. It was some time doubted whether it be necessary to
explain the things implied by particular words; as under the term
baronet, whether, instead of this explanation, a title of honour next in
degree to that of baron, it would be better to mention more particularly
the creation, privileges, and rank of baronets; and whether, under the
word barometer, instead of being satisfied with observing that it is an
instrument to discover the weight of the air, it would be fit to spend a
few lines upon its invention, construction, and principles. It is not to be
expected, that with the explanation of the one the herald should be
satisfied, or the philosopher with that of the other; but since it will be
required by common readers, that the explications should be sufficient
for common use; and since, without some attention to such demands,
the Dictionary cannot become generally valuable, I have determined to
consult the best writers for explanations real as well as verbal; and,
perhaps, I may at last have reason to say, after one of the augmenters of
Furetier, that my book is more learned than its author.
In explaining the general and popular language, it seems necessary to
sort the several senses of each word, and to exhibit first its natural and
primitive signification; as,
To arrive, to reach the shore in a voyage: he arrived at a safe harbour.
Then to give its consequential meaning, to arrive, to reach any place,
whether by land or sea; as, he arrived at his country-seat.
Then its metaphorical sense, to obtain any thing desired; as, he arrived
at a peerage.
Then to mention any observation that arises from the comparison of
one meaning with another; as, it may be remarked of the word arrive,
that, in consequence of its original and etymological sense, it cannot be
properly applied but to words signifying something desirable; thus we
say, a man arrived at happiness; but cannot say, without a mixture of

irony, he arrived at misery.
Ground, the earth, generally as opposed to the air or water. He swam
till he reached ground. The bird fell to the ground.
Then follows the accidental or consequential signification in which
ground implies any thing that lies under another; as, he laid colours
upon a rough ground. The silk had blue flowers on a red ground.
Then the remoter or metaphorical signification; as, the ground of his
opinion was a false computation. The ground of his work was his
father's manuscript.
After having gone through the natural and figurative senses, it will be
proper to subjoin the poetical sense of each word, where it differs from
that which is in common use; as wanton, applied to any thing of which
the motion is irregular without terrour; as,
In wanton ringlets curl'd her hair.
To the poetical sense may succeed the familiar; as of toast, used to
imply the person whose health is drunk; as,
The wise man's passion, and the vain man's toast. POPE.
The familiar may be followed by the burlesque; as of mellow, applied
to good fellowship:
In all thy humours, whether grave or mellow. ADDISON.
Or of bite, used for _cheat_:
--More a dupe than wit, Sappho can tell you how this man was bit.
POPE.
And, lastly, may be produced the peculiar sense, in which a word is
found in any great author: as faculties, in Shakespeare, signifies the
powers of authority:

--This Duncan Has borne his faculties so meek, has been So clear in his
great office, that, &c.
The signification of adjectives may be often ascertained by uniting
them to substantives; as, _simple swain, simple sheep_. Sometimes the
sense of a substantive may be elucidated by the epithets annexed to it in
good authors; as, the boundless ocean, the _open lawns_: and where
such advantage can be gained by a short quotation, it is