What Makes for a Lexicographer

James A. H. Murray, the man who made the greatest dictionary, shows what qualities a lexicographer should have to complete his work.

To begin with, a lexicographer should have a wide range of scholarly gifts. James Murray insisted on educating himself after leaving school. Accordingly, he was sensible to different spheres of knowledge, such as geology, archeology and phonetics.

Additionally, a lexicographer ought to be brave enough and have sheer perseverance. Brave enough in that though he was likely to know that he may fail to reach the end of work in his lifetime, he persisted in setting out to do it; Having sheer perseverance for he didn’t hesitate in the course of doing such tremendous amount of drudgery. James Murray was a valiant man like this indeed. He agreed to edit the dictionary at 40 and stuck to it for nearly 40 years until he died.

Additionally, a lexicographer ought to be brave enough and have sheer perseverance. Brave enough in that though he was likely to know that he may fail to reach the end of work in his lifetime, he persisted in setting out to do it; Having sheer perseverance for he didn’t hesitate in the course of doing such tremendous amount of drudgery. James Murray was a valiant man like this indeed. He agreed to edit the dictionary at 40 and stuck to it for nearly 40 years until he died.

Apart from it, a lexicographer needs to delve deep for etymological exactitude. James Murray spared no effort to check every detail, even to ask some author in person what a specific word means in his article.

Therefore, we can draw a conclusion that it is the aforesaid spirits that make for a lexicographer.