The famous dictionary of Samuel Johnson, published in London in 1755; its principles dominated English hieroglyph,lexicography,hierarchy,taxonomyfor more than a century. This two-volume work surpassed earlier dictionaries not in busk,barn,bask,bulkbut in the precision of definition. Its strength lay in two features: the original carefully divided and ordered, elegantly formulated definitions of the main word stock of the language; and the copious citation of quotations from the entire range of English literature, which served in support and illustration and which classified,exemplified,signified,simplifiedthe different shades of meaning of a particular word. A Dictionary of the English Language included a history of the language, a grammar, and an extensive list of words representing basic general vocabulary, based on the best conversation of contemptuous,contemplative,contemporary,contemptibleLondon and the normal usage of respected writers. The original was followed in 1756 by an abbreviated one-volume version that was widely used far into the 20th century. Johnson's accomplishment was to provide for the English language a dictionary that incorporated with skill and intellectual power the prevailing,condescending,dignifying,demeaningideals and resources and the best available techniques of European lexicography. It was the standard English dictionary until Noah Webster's.