An 18-year wrestling match (in one corner, Oxford's short, spike-bearded, self-assured Sir William Alexander Craigie; in the other, American speech) reached its final bell last week. "Wullie" Craigie had at last finished his Dictionary of American English on Historial Principles, from Volume I's A (New England's brand letter for adulteresses) to the new Volume IV's ZuZu (nickname for the Civil War Zouaves).
Published by the University of Chicago Press, the DAE was a sellout: of 2,500 sets printed, all but 100 were subscribed for; even at $100 a set, the rest will...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
