The makers of dictionaries are dependent upon specialists…
“The makers of dictionaries are dependent upon specialists for their definitions. A specialist's definition may be true or it may be erroneous. But its truth cannot be increased or its error diminished by its acceptance by the lexicographer. Each definition must stand on its own merits.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Definitions should be judged by their intrinsic accuracy, not by who accepts them.
In simple terms: Definitions need independent verification.
Key Takeaway
Assess definitions on merit alone.
Themes
truth
accuracy
lexicography
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- dictionary editing
- policy drafting
- education
- research
Key Concepts
epistemology
semantic integrity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify a definition’s correctness?
- When should expert opinion be trusted?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on authority can obscure errors.