Samuel Johnson trivia
Samuel Johnson Mini Quiz
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
Question 1
Samuel Johnson, a famous lexicographer, jokingly defined his own dictionary profession as what?
In his 1755 dictionary, Johnson defined "lexicographer" as "a writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge" to poke fun at the exhausting nature of his nine-year project.
Question 2
A Dictionary of the English Language, Samuel Johnson's masterwork, clarified vocabulary using what?
To show how words were actually used in context, Johnson included over 114,000 quotations from celebrated English authors like William Shakespeare and John Milton.
Question 3
Samuel Johnson, an English writer, famously insulted Scotland while defining what everyday crop?
Johnson cheekily defined oats as a grain that "in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people," a playful jab at his Scottish assistants.
Question 4
Samuel Johnson's 1755 dictionary, a massive solo project, achieved what major language milestone?
Before Johnson's work, English words were often spelled phonetically and inconsistently. His dictionary cemented standard spellings that are largely still used today.