First fascicle of the New English Dictionary published

Publication Context. The dictionary began as a Philological Society project in London, initiated by intellectuals dissatisfied with existing English dictionaries. The society agreed to the project in principle, adopting the title A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles. Work began in 1857, but the first unbound fascicles were not published until 1884, twenty-three years after initial sample pages.

Editorial Arrangement. James Murray was invited to Oxford in 1878 to edit a new dictionary. A formal agreement was established on 1 March 1879, with Oxford University Press agreeing to publish the work and pay Murray. Murray, who was also the Philological Society president, became the primary editor from 1879 until his death.

Fascicle Details. The first fascicle was published on 1 February 1884. It was a 352-page volume covering words from A to Ant. The full title included the phrase 'Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by The Philological Society'. The volume cost 12s 6d, equivalent to $67 in 2025.