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Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

February 9, 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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1828 Definition

CUMBER, v.t. [G., to arrest, to concern, to trouble, to grieve.]

1. To load; to crowd.

A variety of frivolous arguments cumbers the memory to no purpose.

2. To check, stop or retard, as by a load or weight; to make motion difficult; to obstruct.

Why asks he what avails him not in fight, and would but cumber and retard his flight.

3. To perplex or embarrass; to distract or trouble.

Martha was cumbered about much serving. Luke 10.

4. To trouble; to be troublesome to; to cause trouble or obstruction in, as any thing useless. Thus, brambles cumber a garden or field. [See Encumber, which is more generally used.]

CUMBER, n. Hindrance; obstruction; burdensomeness; embarrassment; disturbance; distress.

Thus fade thy helps, and thus thy cumbers spring. [This word is now scarcely used.]

1913 Definition

Cumber (cumber)
v. t.	(k?m"b?r)
Cum"ber
[imp. ** p. p.* Cumbered (-b?rd)] p. pr. ** vb. n.* Cumbering.] [OE. combren, cumbren,OF. combrer to hinder, from LL. cumbrus a heap, fr. L. cumulus] cf. Skr.

To rest upon as a troublesome or useless weight or load; to be burdensome or oppressive to; to hinder or embarrass in attaining an object, to obstruct or occupy uselessly; to embarrass; to trouble.

Why asks he what avails him not in fight,
And would but cumber and retard his flight?
Dryden.

Martha was cumbered about much serving.
Luke x. 40.

Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
Luke xiii. 7.

The multiplying variety of arguments, especially frivolous ones, . . . but cumbers the memory.
Locke.

Trouble; embarrassment; distress.

[Obs.] [Written also comber.]

A place of much distraction and cumber.
Sir H. Wotton.

Sage counsel in cumber.
Sir W. Scott.

Noah Says...

The duties of men are summarily comprised in the Ten Commandments, consisting of two tables; one comprehending the duties which we owe immediately to God-the other, the duties we owe to our fellow men.

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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.

February 9, 2012