Question

So far have I been from any care to grace my pages with modern decorations, that I have studiously endeavoured to collect examples and authorities from the writers before the restoration, whose works I regard as the wells of English undefiled, as the pure sources of genuine diction. –Preface to A Dictionary of the English Language, Samuel Johnson Based on the passage, what made Johnson’s dictionary innovative?

Answer 1

Answer:

It was the first dictionary to trace word usage by using quotations from authoritative writers.

Explanation:

The Dictionary was undoubtedly an admirable work, especially considering that Johnson did it practically on his own. He worked with six secretaries, it is true, and received help from other literati on etymological questions - but an almost insignificant aid given the scale of the task. As shown in the paragraph written by Johnson and shown in the question above, the dictionary was formed with Johnson collecting examples and writers' authority prior to the restoration, which is what this dictionary presented as most innovative.

In other words, we can say that what allowed Johnson's dictionary to be considered innovative was that it was the first dictionary to track word usage using quotes from competent writers.

Answer 2

The fact that as he states it himself, he made sure to use examples from actual writers about the actual meaning and usage of a word. In other words, he quoted their writings to illustrate the meaning of the words as they were used by actual people.

Thus, the meaning and use of the words was no longer just theoretical but practical as well. He was also very prescriptive, meaning that he asserted his opinions by using humor or judgment on the intrinsic quality of the notions the words were describing. Here that can be clearly seen by the way he uses the adjective “undefiled” (meaning not dirtied) to refer to the only variety of the English language than in his view is the proper one.