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Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

May 25, 2012

Project::Noah

In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed... No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.

Preface to 1828 Dictionary

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(3) Words.

awkward
awkwardly
awkwardness

Webster

KJV

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1828 Definition

AWK'WARD, a. [awk and ward.]

1. Wanting dexterity in the use of the hands or of instruments; unready; not dexterous; bungling; untoward.

2. Inelegant; unpolite; ungraceful in manners; clumsy; unnatural; bad.

1913 Definition

Awkward (awkward)
a.	(***add]k"werd)
Awk"ward
[Awk + -ward.]

Wanting dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments; not dexterous; without skill; clumsy; wanting ease, grace, or effectiveness in movement; ungraceful; as, he was awkward at a trick; an awkward boy.

And dropped an awkward courtesy.
Dryden.

Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing.

A long and awkward process.
Macaulay.

An awkward affair is one that has gone wrong, and is difficult to adjust.
C. J. Smith.

Perverse; adverse; untoward.

[Obs.] "Awkward casualties." "Awkward wind." Shak.

O blind guides, which being of an awkward religion, do strain out a gnat, and swallow up a cancel.
Udall.

Syn. -- Ungainly; unhandy; clownish; lubberly; gawky; maladroit; bungling; inelegant; ungraceful; unbecoming. -- Awkward, Clumsy, Uncouth. Awkward has a special reference to outward deportment. A man is clumsy in his whole person, he is awkward in his gait and the movement of his limbs. Clumsiness is seen at the first view. Awkwardness is discovered only when a person begins to move. Hence the expressions, a clumsy appearance, and an awkward manner. When we speak figuratively of an awkward excuse, we think of a want of ease and grace in making it; when we speak of a clumsy excuse, we think of the whole thing as coarse and stupid. We apply the term uncouth most frequently to that which results from the want of instruction or training; as, uncouth manners; uncouth language.

-- Awk"ward*ly (***add]k"we 1913 webster dictionary rd*l), adv. -- Awk"ward*ness, n.

Noah Says...

In correcting public evils, great reliance is placed on schools. But learning and sciences have no material effect in subduing ambition and selfishness, reconciling parties or subjecting private interest to the influence of a ruling preference of public good.

On Suffrage (unpublished)

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Founded in 1984, The McGuire Center for Entrepreneruship is of the first university-based centers for entrepreneurship, the center is one of the few to consistently maintain top tier ranking status.

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Project::Noah

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The foundation for American Heritage Access [AHA] strives to capture the essence of American culture with an intent to make early American manuscripts accessible to modern society. We believe that the successful future of this country is dependent on honoring and respecting its past. In order to achieve this ideal, several projects will be introduced and executed. The first initiatives of Project::Noah will involve the accessibility of the 1828 American dictionary.

Vision::Reprint

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The first vision, Vision::Reprint, has an intent to make a modern printing of the first dictionary of the American language available to the public for under $25. The first task, Task::Access, involves the digitizing of the original 1828 dictionary. The dictionary is available in microfilm (American Culture Series, Reel 335.6-336.1, Michigan University Microfilms) at many universities. To digitize the microfilm as a batch process requires a special scanner.

Vision::Redesign

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The second vision, Vision::Redesign, has an intent to improve the current online accessibility to the 1828 dictionary. Beyond the Task::XML, other tasks related to this Vision::Redesign include identifying features and functionality for this new website. In addition, plugins will be discussed and created to make the dictionary accessible in other ways: iPhone, Google widget, Firefox Add-on, etc.

Vision::Recapture

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The third vision, Vision::Recapture, has an intent to evoke the importance of Noah Webster in our American Heritage. This vision will manifest itself in a commissioned painting of Noah Webster. The process involved will require the input from concerned Americans. The final commission painting will be derived from initial sketches and digital compositions. Feedback from the community is essential for this vision's success throughout the entire process.

May 25, 2012