Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A historical figure in American lexicography: Joseph Emerson Worcester was a 19th-century American lexicographer, known for his dictionaries and a famous rivalry with Noah Webster.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The dictionary compiled by Joseph Emerson Worcester was a major competitor to Webster's.
  • Students of lexicography often study the controversy between Noah Webster and Joseph Emerson Worcester.

Advanced Usage

• "Worcesterian": Pertaining to or characteristic of Joseph Emerson Worcester or his scholarly work, particularly his dictionary style.
  • The Worcesterian approach to spelling was more conservative than Webster's.

Variants and Related Words

• Worcester's Dictionary: Refers specifically to the dictionaries published by Joseph Emerson Worcester, such as "A Comprehensive Pronouncing and Explanatory Dictionary of the English Language."
  • Worcester's Dictionary was a respected reference work in its time.

Synonyms

• Lexicographer: A compiler or writer of a dictionary.
• Scholar: A specialist in a particular branch of study.

Related Phrases

• The Webster-Worcester Dictionary Wars: A historical term for the public and professional rivalry between the dictionaries of Noah Webster and Joseph Emerson Worcester.
  • The Webster-Worcester dictionary wars were a significant chapter in American publishing.

Noun

1. United States lexicographer who was accused of plagiarism by Noah Webster (1784-1865)