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From: Ross Clark <benlizro@ihug.co.nz>
Newsgroups: sci.lang
Subject: National Dictionary Day (16 October)
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2024 22:30:04 +1300
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"National" here is American. And the day is the birthday of Noah Webster 
(16/10/1758-28/5/1843). Author of the "National Dictionary".
Actually called The American Dictionary of the English Language.
Published 1828. 25 years in the making, 2,000 pages, 70,000 entries.
Price $20.00.

"A great number of words in our language require to be defined in a 
phraseology accommodated to the condition and institutions of the people 
in these states, and the people of England must look to an American 
Dictionary for a correct understanding of such terms."
(from the Preface)

This almost reads like a claim that the American senses are the correct 
ones. But I think he is taking the much more reasonable position that 
where UK and US usage diverge, if UK speakers want to know about the US 
usage, it makes sense for them to consult an American dictionary.

Webster's first big success was a Spelling Book (1783), which sold and 
sold for decades, and made him a household (or schoolroom) name. He had 
some good ideas about improved spelling, several of which have become 
standard for USEng.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Webster
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webster%27s_Dictionary