Twitter's Dr Johnson To Publish Dictionary

There can be no doubt of Dr Samuel Johnson's great achievement with his Dictionary: an astonishing work of scholarship that transformed our language. Now, after a hiatus of over 250 years, I am pleased to reveal that our favourite lexicographer has been putting the finishing touches to a brand new dictionary called Dr Johnson's Dictionary of Modern Life. The result of much painful labour at his home in Gough Square, the book will accompany Dr Johnson's popular Twitter feed and promises to address 'Divers Contemporary Phenomena, from Top Gear Unto Twitter'. I do not know as yet when this work will be released to the public, but I feel sure that it will meet with your warmest approbation.

Enquire at Amazon Booksellers for further details.

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Word of the Week: Garret Election

A ludicrous ceremony, practised every new parliament: it consists of a mock election of two members to represent the borough of Garret (a few straggling cottages near Wandsworth in Surrey); the qualification of a voter is: having enjoyed a woman in the open air within that district. The candidates are commonly fellows of low humour, who dress themselves up in a ridiculous manner. As this brings a prodigious concourse of people to Wandsworth, the publicans of that place jointly contribute to the expense, which is sometimes considerable.

From: Captain Grose's 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

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