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Webster, Noah 1758-1843.

American lexicographer whose three-part A Grammatical Institute of the English Language consisted of a speller (1783) that helped standardize American spelling, a grammar (1784), and a reader (1785). His major work, An American Dictionary of the English Language, was originally published in 1828.

Webster, John 1580?-1634?

English playwright whose works include The White Devil (published 1612) and The Duchess of Malfi (c. 1613).

Web·ster

(wĕbstər), Daniel 1782-1852.

American politician. A US representative from New Hampshire (1813-1817) and later a representative (1823-1827) and senator (1827-1841 and 1845-1850) from Massachusetts, he was a noted orator who espoused preservation of the Union. He twice served as secretary of state (1841-1843 and 1850-1852).

web·ster

(wĕbstər)

n.
Archaic

A weaver of cloth.

[Middle English, from Old English webbestre, feminine of webba, weaver, from webb, web; see webh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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