Webster's Dictionary of 1864

This fall marks the 150th anniversary of a landmark in the history of American dictionary making, the 1864 edition of Webster's Dictionary. Commonly referred to as the Unabridged and edited during the turmoil of the American Civil War, the 1864 edition was the first comprehensive revision of Noah's Webster's Dictionary since his death in 1843.

Incorporating advances in the understanding of the history of languages and a more rigorous view of how definitions should be structured, the publisher, then known as the G. & C. Merriam Co., assembled a scholarly editorial team to create the dictionary, establishing the process still used by dictionary makers today.

Hear John Morse, President and Publisher of Merriam-Webster, or Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster's Editor-at-Large, speak about this revolution in dictionary making and how it reflected the world in which it was created, as well as the lessons it has for today's editors at Merriam-Webster as they once again take on the task of revising the Unabridged.

To book a speaking event, please contact us here.