Dictionary Day 📚

Overview

Dictionary Day, observed annually on October 16th, commemorates the birth of Noah Webster, the prolific lexicographer often considered the "Father of the American Dictionary." This day encourages appreciation for dictionaries as essential tools for language, learning, and expanding one's vocabulary, highlighting their role in understanding and communicating effectively.

Origin and story

The date October 16th was chosen to honor the birthday of American lexicographer Noah Webster, who was born in 1758.

Noah Webster's monumental "An American Dictionary of the English Language," published in 1828, took him 20 years to compile.

Quick facts

• DateOctober 16
• TypeLearning / Reading
• Great forBook clubs, Teachers, Students

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Ways to celebrate

Dictionary Day honors Noah Webster, who taught himself 26 languages just to properly research the origins of American English.

Use the dictionary

Celebrate by:

• Looking up a word you've never used before and actually working it into conversation today.
• Flipping through a physical dictionary instead of just searching online, and seeing what else catches your eye nearby.
• Settling a word-meaning argument with an actual dictionary instead of guessing.

Learn about Noah Webster

Helpful resources:

• Noah Webster and the Dream of a Common Language (Connecticut History)

Did you know?

Webster's 1828 "An American Dictionary of the English Language" included 70,000 words and took roughly 20 years to complete, partly because he learned 26 languages, including Anglo-Saxon and Sanskrit, to trace word origins.

Fun facts

• The date October 16th was chosen to honor the birthday of American lexicographer Noah Webster, who was born in 1758.
• Noah Webster's monumental "An American Dictionary of the English Language," published in 1828, took him 20 years to compile.
• That 1828 dictionary included around 70,000 words, 12,000 of which had never appeared in a dictionary before.

Sources and attribution

Noah Webster and the Dream of a Common Language (Connecticut History)

External links may lead to third-party websites.

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FAQ

When is Dictionary Day?

It is observed on October 16 each year.

What is Dictionary Day?

Dictionary Day, observed annually on October 16th, commemorates the birth of Noah Webster, the prolific lexicographer often considered the "Father of the American Dictionary." This day encourages appreciation for dictionaries as essential tools for language, learning, and expanding one's vocabulary, highlighting their role in understanding and communicating effectively.

How do people celebrate Dictionary Day?

Learn a new word and actually use it today — the date honors Noah Webster, born in 1758, who spent 20 years compiling 'An American Dictionary of the English Language.'

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