Advance Your Education Now

In these tumultuous and controversial times it’s a breath of fresh air to find the kind of prose and pontification that I found contained betwixt the cardboard covers of Mrs. Websters newest installment. Cadence and rythem take a back seat to content and deeper revelations as she explores the seedy underbelly of the English language. Roll the curtain way up on this one, Ms. Webster- and keep up that staccatto gunfire that is your Smith Corona. We love you baby- don’t you go changing.
Rating: 5 / 5

Oh my, what a long way definitions of words have strayed. Most people who buy and use Webster’s dictionaries (either online, CD-ROM or as a book) don’t realize Noah Webster was an extremely devout Christian. In fact, he was so devoted that his original 1st edition 1828 dictionary (still availible as a reprint under ISBN# 091249803X) had most of its definitions taken straight out of the bible (similar to the way our constitution was constructed from the bible). So many, many American English word’s are based on biblical meanings (whether people care to admit it or not).

Example, in the 3rd edition of Webster’s dictionary the word “Easter” is defined as a “Pagan holiday” (which is correct). In 8th editions and later, some ignorant, would-be, so-called “editor” decided to change the definition and now “Easter” is defined as a “Christian holiday” (which is INCORRECT, it’s the Greek word “pascha” wich means “Passover” not “Easter”). How can the meaning of a word mysteriously change (virtually overnight) from a “Pagan meaning” to a “Christian meaning”??!! (By the way, pagan means a “heathen”: a follower of a polythestic religion (polytheistic means many god’s) or one who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods: an irreligious or hedonistic person).

Just a heads up on how the definitions of English words are being tampered with by Merriam-Webster.

The moral of the story is this: if you want correct and truthful definitions, get ahold of the oldest Webster’s dictionary you can possibly find and don’t ever let go of it (in fact, always keep a look out for an older edition than the one you currently have on hand). Let the “liberal powers that be” at Merriam-Webster keep changing and tampering with definitions to conform to their own views while you keep using and treasuring your ancient, dusty and musty smelling, old Webster’s dictionary.

You can get a nice, rank, old one on eBay or at a Garage Sale for a dollar or two. Or better yet, order the original 1828 dictionary and use it! That’s the edition I use. A dictionary is one of the few things in life where older is actually better than new.
Rating: 1 / 5