Who decides what’s in the dictionary? - Ilan Stavans

Explore the history of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary and find out how old words get redefined and how new words are added. -- While the concept of a dictionary dates back to ancient civilizations, the first English dictionary wasn’t published until 1604. In the centuries that followed, many more dictionaries were written by individual authors who chose what to include or exclude, with most quickly becoming outdated. One 19th century lexicon had a different fate. Ilan Stavans digs into the history of Webster’s Dictionary. Lesson by Ilan Stavans, directed by Lisa LaBracio. Support Our Non-Profit Mission ---------------------------------------------- Support us on Patreon: Check out our merch: ---------------------------------------------- Connect With Us ---------------------------------------------- Sign up for our newsletter: Follow us on Facebook: Find us on Twitter: