QI | Who Wrote The First English Dictionary?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ย. 2024
- 15 April: On this day in 1755, Samuel Johnson's dictionary was published.
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This clip is from QI Series J, Episode 4, 'Jack and Jill' with Stephen Fry, Alan Davies, Katy Brand, David Mitchell and Sue Perkins.
My favorite anecdote about this, courtesy of Hitchens: When Dr. Johnson published his dictionary he was visited by a delegation of respectable ladies who congratulated him for his decision to exclude any indecent words, to which he replied "Ladies, I congratulate you on your persistence in looking them up!"
Why did I read that in the voice of Robbie Coltrane? Oh yes - Blackadder.
Johnson's definition of lexicographer:
"One who compiles dictionaries - a pleasant and genial fellow"!
Is that true?
{:o:O:}
That sounds a bit like Bierce.
A harmless drudge
When?
The definition of "sock" reminds me of a definition of "horse" in the first Polish dictionary: "horse - what it is, everybody can see"
*Flying hussars intensifies *
What if you're blind?
I wonder how many other nouns were given similar treatment?
Simon It's the number everybody knows.
I mean what's the alternative, "A bloody massive dog"
"I've done C and D."
"Right, let's hear it then."
"Big, blue wobbly thing that mermaids live in. Sea."
Je ne sais quoi That’s from the blackadder episode where they thought they burnt the only dictionary
Dog - not a cat
It was B and C. B a thing that goes bzzzz.
B
A
Buzzing
Thing
I offer my most gracious contrafibularities to those, who knew the answer.
Ill probably sound the buzzer, but please stop Shakespeare
+firehazard I don't know why, it's a perfectly cromulent word. I suspect your dictionaries could use some embiggening.
You surely aren't leaving without your pendigestatery interludeteries?
I am frasmotic and anaspectic towards those who didn't know the answer.
This clearly calls for an outside expert to help resolve the matter.
I will fetch one in.
I will be back before you can say "antidisestablishmentarianism"
Black Adder reference was on point.
and whenever I hear of Dr Samuel Johnson, I instantly see Robbie Coltrane.
I love Sue's rubbish hammer-mime when she defined 'shapesmith': "I've... done a thing..."
Get out more.
........... A very *bad* thing
Now that would have sparked real interest.
Blackadder and Only Fools and Horses references in one video. Well done.
Once upon a time there was a lovely little sausage called Baldrick and he lived happily ever after
3:48 - And that's why England has the finest horses and Scotland the finest men.
Ouch! Now THAT's a come back
@@Noah-wx7fm It is a quote from Sir Walter Scott as I recall, who did it as a comeback something like a hundred years after the first half of the statement. There is actually some science behind that, and the medieval Scottish military (such as it was) was unique for having better than average logistics. Every soldier would carry a supply of oats with them, and could make oatmeal and oatcakes whenever they wanted. Lots of medieval armies had no real logistical support and just had the food that they could scavenge, whereas the Scots could supplement their diet with scavenging instead of relying on it entirely. Lots of armies would get desperate and eat their horses. Even by the Napoleonic Wars scavenging was still common for most European armies as to how the army fed it self. In the 1905 Russo-Japanese War one of the advantages the Japanese had was a superior logistical support system (based on the British one as I recall, or at least similar) which including soldiers carrying their own rations in addition to having some supplied by the baggage system and scavenging, seems minor but things like that can make major differences. Medieval Japanese ashigaru (a peasant levy) had something similar to the Scots actually, they would have this sort of hose like bag that they would wrap around themselves (over one should, under the other, like a bandoleer) full of rice, their metal jinghasa helmets (military versions of the Asian, conical straw hats associated with farmers) made cook cooking pots. Of course medieval Japan generally fought medieval Japan, so it had little affect, everyone being equal. Not sure about the Koreans, who are the only people I can think of that the Japanese had a protracted war against.
@@Lowlandlord that is really interesting. All of that really. People like you who know stuff about stuff are the best, lol
That's a novel one: judging people by what their soldiers had as army rations.
@@Lowlandlord If you ever learn about how Romans did war its every bit as impressive, if not more so. They would show up somewhere, build a basic fort, they would carve steps in the mountainside to make it easier for horses, they would make friends with locals and find out their enemies. Lots of little things which havent changed in 1000s of years. Really what surprised me most is that the skills of carpentry seemed more important that the skills of war. Oh youre French and holding up in your castle. Fair enough, we will build everything we need to take your castle. Were not just going to sit around here and watch you starve. You might have called for reinforcments.
Oats: "A grain which, in England, is generally given to horses, but in Scotland, supports the people".
So there you have it. Not all burns were Scottish.
@Grassy Knoll Well, if you're Scottish, you're British as well.
@@Chebab-Chebab britannia was England and Wales. Caledonia was scotland. Scotland being included in Britain is nothing but enlish propaganda. Scotland is not and never has been ‘Britain’
@@johnnyxrcfc Well, seeing as a Scottish king (and also king of England) joined England and Scotland, I'd say that he started it.
@@johnnyxrcfc You really care, don't you?
@@johnnyxrcfc actually the Romans called Scotland North Britain and the Scots are actually settlers from North East Ireland who settled in the area of what is today Argylleshire in tgd 5th century-these people were Scotia and became the first kings and gave their name eventually to the whole country .The also taught the locals how to make whisky but clearly not how to spell it .Read a history of Scotland from pre Roman times of the various groups which includes Picts Angles Britons and the Scots in Dalriada from whom the first kings of all Scotland came .
One of Dr Johnson's more eccentric definitions: Dog, (N) A well-known animal.
That’s worse than Baldrick’s effort! ‘Not a cat.’ 🤣
Whilst on the subject of dictionaries; Sir James Augustus Henry Murray and William Chester Minor contributed the greatest number of words in the Oxford English dictionary. A film has been produced, titled "The professor and the Madman". Quite a remarkable story.
i miss blackadder
Ashish Gupta Wibble
i mister blackadder
A cunning plan?
It might be back hopefully
This show is fantastic. Great idea for a show and even better implementation.
No one commented on Stephen's quick little "horse nipple clamps" line
The first Polish dictionary included the following definition of 'horse':
"Everyone knows what a horse is."
Sue Perkins is quite simply beautiful. Very, very intelligent & funny too, what a mix.
I agree, but sadly I am not equipped to satisfy her requirements, being a man and everything....
I'm sure Baldric did write a dictionary but he wrote it on giant turnips and they unfortunately are lost to time and decay
We almost found the question for 42 :/
QI ~ Who Wrote The First English Dictionary?
Me ~ That guy from BlackAdder.
3:28 omg its that meme where he's reading then looks up with a wtf face.
Don't forget the "WTF am I reading??" meme
Obviously looked at his definition for a sock
"i made a thing"
The dictionary was named after its inventor Richard Shonary. Or at least, that is what I heard.
It's a bloody Aardvark!
Oh, I'm sorry, sir. I'm anaspeptic, phrasmotic, even compunctuous to have caused you such pericombobulation.
Really remarkable when you realize Atkinson was a stutterer.
I shall return interfrastically.
Leaving so soon, sir?
Not staying for your pendergestatory interluditive?
T'is a common word, down our way.
This appears to be 1080i resolution.
Sock-Noun-Folded fabric for 'friegning from frigorifick feet.
My favourite dictionary word is Dord, which means density.
Apparently it was meant to define the representation/variable for density, which is either D or d, but was accidentally squished together into one "word".
0:15 That laugh! Mr Fry.
In spanish frigorifick Is what you call a building that has many fridges, and its called frigorífico
I think Frigorífico is Portuguese for fridge as well
I celebrated last night the
encyclopaedic implementation of my pre-meditated orchestration of demotic Anglo-Saxon.
Sounds Damn Saucy!
Depucelate: Joan of Arc was called La Pucelle d'Orleans, "the Maid of Orleans"
If you know what the French word dépuceler or puceau means.
3:03 the reaction to "depucellate"
1755 is not quite in the earlier part of the 18th century.
Imagine inventing the dictionary, only to have the word “dictionary” added to it.
Lord knows I need a shapesmith 🤦♂️
So Baldrick's definitions of "dog" and "sea" might not have been completely out of place, then.
David Mitchell should be an expert on words coined by William Shakespeare. 😉
I’d like to have Baldricks dictionary.
“C” big blue wobbly thing, that mermaids live in.
Did these early dictionaries include Aardvark. Got you..
If you ever visit Dr Johnson's home in Doughty Street, London, be sure to say hello to the small statue of his beloved cat, Hodge. He loved cats, therefore I love Johnson.
Frigorifick is interesting, in the area I grew up the only time someone would say something similar to that is when they were describing if it was really cold, they'd say 'it's frigging cold'. Wonder if it derives from that? It was a heavily Yorkshire accent area too.
Superfly Gaming people say frigging instead of saying "fucking"
I know that, but I only ever heard the word frigging when used to mention it was cold.
Superfly Gaming frigorifico is 'fridge' some parts of Spain
Superfly Gaming In Portuguese "fridge" is frigorífico.
Same experience in my life too but more southerly, London area. Admittedly, generations pass and new generations begin their own language as did my generation in younger years; for example, bad or wicked meant good. Friggin, as in friggin cold, was assumed that friggin had replaced the word f'ing and deemed as such by everyone known to me at that time. That doesn't mean that the theory of the origin of the word friggin isn't correct.
Ammended:
According to Etymology online; frigid; 1620s, "intensely cold," from Latin frigidus "cold, chill, cool," figuratively "indifferent," also "flat, dull, trivial," from stem of frigere "be cold;" related to noun frigus "cold, coldness, frost," from Proto-Italic *srigos-, from PIE root *srig- "cold" (source also of Greek rhigos "cold, frost"). The meaning "wanting in sexual heat" is attested from 1650s, originally of males. Related: Frigidly; frigidness
Frigorific; "causing cold," 1660s, from French frigorifique, from Late Latin frigorificus "cooling," from frigor-, stem of Latin frigus "cold, cool, coolness" (see frigid) + -ficus "making, doing," from combining form of facere "to make, do" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put").
I looked up dictionary in a dictionary. It described what one was. I was hoping for something like "really?" or "this." or "What you're reading, ahole." At the very least, "as, of, or of being a dictionary." For the longest time, I thought 'disseminate' meant to pursue and destroy bad information that was out there, not simply spread information.
I often notice that the TH-cam videos with less than 50 comments are the ones most worth watching. How's that?
Because people are too drawn in by the video and are watching it instead of commenting
Not out.
Depucelate are frigorifick are still used in French, albeit spelled differently.
if you speak french, you may have guessed 'to depucelate' from dépuceler (pucelle meaning virgin)
I really thought "Depucelate" was going to mean "to find your courage or lose your fear, then I realized it's spelled pusil-lanimous, not pucil. If only I had a dictionary handy... you know, at my fingertips.
Some would say David was nearest to the mark at 2.30 ..... IF you are in fact into nipple clamps as a presumed way of improving one's body then indeed a shapesmith may be the perfect provider?
Dépuceler and frigorifique are still commonly used in French.
languages are fascinating.
4 out of 5 of the none used words are quite useful.
Susie Dent!
Nah...she just made it sexy.
Dog - Not a cat
Johnson was refused a job at my old school, which fell in the Diocese of Lichfield, and this is fortunate, as he would never have written “London”: “You risk your life, if here at night you roam……”
Asides. Besides. Seasides. Decides. The four sides of double LP albums.
CAPTIONS PLEASE!!!?
how did you do it can you share with me , thank you
American, in the USA... like to tell people that Webster wrote the first dictionary... and notice I did not say English dictionary lol but yes that too. They also like to tell people that Texas is the biggest state when Alaska is.
But did he actually miss out Aardvark?
Probably, because the boers, or boeren (Dutch for farmers) of South Africa named an animal not found in the UK aardvarken. Which translates as Earth pig. The name was adopted into English language at some later date.
johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/search-johnsons-dictionary/?SearchValue=aardvark
Alex Veldhuis It’s a Blackadder reference.
3:28 heeyyyy, I have that picture on my pc.
I have such a crush on Sue Perkins
Definitely quite a looker in person, I can testify!
SAUSAGE???????!!!!
Oh. And aardvark.
Damn your eyes man ! ! ! Damn your eyes ! ! !
Why would he say writ instead of wrote
How would you define "define"? Also, would the definition of "dictionary" in a dictionary be "the book you are currently holding idiot"?
0:49 that is not much of a dictionary is it
Sir, you are surely not using the first English dictionary to look up rude words?
I wouldn't be too hopefull. That's what all the other ones will be used for.
"Frigorifick" is this where we got the short name for the refrigerator , the "Frig?
They're frigorifick and refrigerator are both derived from the Latin "frigus", meaning "frost". I've never heard anybody call a fridge a "frig"
It appears as though the word 'Frigorifick' was likely rooted in the Spanish word 'Frigorifico' and pronounced with a hard 'g'.
Well the English word for that is refrigerator/refrigeration, so more a coincidence.
I believe they're all derived from the Latin "frigus", whence "frigid" and others.
Depucelate is the only word i guessed right. It sounds like the french word ..
Was the word "Dictionary" in the first dictionary?
What about McNaughton?
Johnson defined Patron as "a person with no talent who pays others to be talented for him"
42,773... but he forgot sausage...
And aardvark
Doctor Johnsons version ommited the word sausage
We've all been frigorifick'd!
Actually, we've all been depucelated!
"A burnt novel is like a burnt dog..."
By no means the first, but regarder as the masterpiece of its day, and surpassed any other dictionary in Europe.
And the last one will be written by a graduate of DeVos' public school system, and it will be friggin' illegible.
dont worry we in the first world that speak english will keep english going
u fukin wot m8?
tim211292 You avin a larf?
i did mean Canada, Australia, NZ and the UK will be keeping English going properly :P
But they will know how to kill at 300 yards for 20 bucks. Not sure what else a family of mercenaries is qualified to teach kids.
I would have guessed Webster... or Oxford University.
I wouldn't mind being a mouthfriend to Alan Davies, ;-) xx
"SAUSAGE!"
*SAUSAGE...?*
Can I look up turnip
nice
So the word dictionary existed before the creation of the first dictionary? 🤔
Strangely enough I am one of the last remaining living descendant of Dr Samuel Johnson’s manservant Francis Barber.
So after watching this video I realise that Dr Samuel Johnson would not approve of my existence because half my family is Scottish😳
To be an ancestor of Francis Barber, you'd have to be over 300 years old. You're a descendant. Maybe buy a dictionary........
but has he got sausage?
C
Big blue wobbly thing that mermaids live in.
「どうやってやるの？」、
Love the story (hopefully true) when Johnson was berated by a red-faced woman demanding to know why he described 'clinch' as part of a horses' hoof...to which he replied: "Ignorance ma-am, pure ignorance..."
Get your Wagnels and get the Funk out
That's not a bloody Dictionary!
Most things. Nothing with logic about it.
Is the answer is Dr Johnson
Well, the wrong answer.
I just heard the word duplicitous twice in two different vids for the first time ever O.o"
I think its an awful dictionary! Full of feeble definitions and redicilous verbiate! Id ask anyone to chuck the damn thing in the fire!
"Baldric, why have you turned into an Alsatian?"
@@rextheroyalist6389 "Oh God, I'm having a dream..."
Rubbish Blacksmith lol
If everyone uses them for definitions then why do we call them "diction"airies? Of course, the pronunciations are in there, but still. I kept waiting for someone to mention it. Am I the only one that cares? Not that I care. How does one turn off their brain?
Diction has several meanings, one of which is:
"the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing"
Did anyone pick up the very first few words? "Who 'rit' the first dictionary?" He said 'rit' instead of 'wrote'
Zac Pope He said “wrote”
He definitely said “wrote”.
Unfunny clip