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Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

February 10, 2012

Project::Noah

It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American Dictionary of the English language; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas; and if the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language.

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(4) Words.

bleak
bleakish
bleakness
bleaky

Words

Definitions

(4) Words.

bleak
bleakish
bleakness
bleaky

(9) Words.

ablen
ablet
blay
bleach
bleak
bleakish
bleaky
raw
scirocco

Webster

KJV

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B › bleak

1828 Definition

BLEAK, a.

1. Pale. [But not often used in this sense, in America, as far as my observations extend.]

2. Open; vacant; exposed to a free current of air; as a bleak hill or shore. This is the true sense of the word; hence cold and cheerless. A bleak wind is not so named merely from its coldness, but from its blowing without interruption, on a wide waste;at least this is the sense in America. So in Addison. "Her desolation presents us with nothing but bleak and barren prospects.'

BLEAK, n. A small river fish, five or six inches long, so named from its whiteness. It belongs to the genus Cyprinus,and is known to the Londoners by the name of white bait. It is called also by contraction blay.

1913 Definition

Bleak (bleak)
a.	((?))
Bleak
[OE. blac, bleyke, bleche, AS. blc, bl(?)c, pale, wan; akin to Icel. bleikr, Sw. blek, Dan. bleg, OS. bl(?)k, D. bleek, OHG. pleih, G. bleich

Without color; pale; pallid.

[Obs.]

When she came out she looked as pale and as bleak as one that were laid out dead.
Foxe.

Desolate and exposed; swept by cold winds.

Wastes too bleak to rear
The common growth of earth, the foodful ear.
Wordsworth.

At daybreak, on the bleak sea beach.
Longfellow.

Cold and cutting; cheerless; as, a bleak blast.

-- Bleak"ish, a. -- Bleak"ly, adv. -- Bleak"ness, n.

A small European river fish (Leuciscus alburnus), of the family Cyprinidæ the blay.

[Written also blick.]

* The silvery pigment lining the scales of the bleak is used in the manufacture of artificial pearls. Baird.

Noah Says...

They choose men, not because they are just men, men of religion and integrity, but solely for the sake of supporting a party. This is a fruitful source of public evils. But as surely as there is a God in heaven, who exercises a moral government over the affairs of this world, so certainly will the neglect of the divine command, in the choice of rulers, be followed by bad laws and as bad administration; by laws unjust or partial, by corruption, tyranny, impunity of crimes, waste of public money, and a thousand other evils. Men may desire and adopt a new form of government; they may amend old forms, repair breaches and punish violators of the constitution; but there is, there can be no effectual remedy, but obedience to the divine law.

Value of the Bible (unpublished manuscript) :: 1834

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Project::Noah

More info ...

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

More info ...

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.

February 10, 2012