Page:The plan of a dictionary of the English language - Samuel Johnson (1747).djvu/38

 words of general use; words employed chiefly in poetry; words obsolete; words which are admitted only by particular writers, yet not in themselves improper; words used only in burlesque writing; and words impure and barbarous.

of general use will be known by having no sign of particularity, and their various senses will be supported by authorities of all ages.

words appropriated to poetry will be distinguished by some mark prefixed, or will be known by having no authorities but those of poets.

antiquated or obsolete words, none will be inserted but such as are to be found in authors who wrote since the accession of Elizabeth, from which we date the golden age of our language; and of these many might be omitted, but that the reader may require, with an appearance of reason, that no difficulty should be left unresolved in books which he finds himself invited to read, as confessed and established models of stile. These will be likewise pointed out by some note of exclusion, but not of disgrace.

words which are found only in particular books, will be known by the single name of him that has used them; but such will be omitted, unless either their propriety, elegance, or force, or the putation