The Dictionary of Lost Words(121)

During my visits to Oxford, I spoke with lexicographers, archivists and dictionary scholars, women and men. I was struck by their passionate fascination with words and how those words have been used throughout their history. Today, the Oxford English Dictionary is in the process of a major revision. This revision will not only add the newest words and meanings, it will update how words were used in the past, based on a better understanding of history and historical texts.

The Dictionary, like the English language, is a work in progress.





ACKNOWLEDGEMENT


The act of acknowledging, confessing, admitting or owning; confession, avowal.

This is just one story. The telling of which has helped me understand things I consider important. I have made it up, but it is full of truth. I would like to acknowledge the women and men of the Oxford English Dictionary – past and present; known and unknown.





EDIT


To publish, give to the world (a literary work by an earlier author, previously existing in MS).

This book would be nothing more than an idea if not for the following people. Thank you to everyone at Affirm Press for working so hard to make this a beautiful book that says nothing more and nothing less than it needs to. In particular, I thank Martin Hughes for his extraordinary confidence in this story, and Ruby Ashby-Orr for her consummate skills as an editor. Put simply, this book is better because of her. I also thank Kieran Rogers, Grace Breen, Stephanie Bishop-Hall, Cosima McGrath and the rest of the team.

For their wonderful support of this book and invaluable editorial feedback, I thank Clara Farmer and Charlotte Humphery from Chatto & Windus publishers in the UK and Susanna Porter from Ballantine Books in the US. For the beautiful cover I thank Lisa White. And I am forever grateful to Claire Kelly for her eagle eye and love of history.





MENTOR


An experienced and trusted counsellor.

I have always loved journeying with people who are wiser than me. Thank you, Toni Jordan, for walking beside me on this adventure and making it a richer and better articulated experience.





ENCOURAGE


To inspire with courage sufficient for any undertaking; to embolden, make confident.

Throughout the writing of this book I have been fortunate to have the encouragement of other writers. For their insights and enthusiasm, I thank Suzanne Verrall, Rebekah Clarkson, Neel Mukherjee, Amanda Smyth and Carol Major. I also thank all the writers with whom I shared residencies at The Hurst – Arvon in the UK, and Varuna, the National Writers’ House, in Katoomba, NSW. I also greatly appreciate the community of writers who are part of Writers SA, and I am grateful for the continuing encouragement of Sarah Tooth. A special thank you to Peter Gross for his generosity and timely advice, and to Thomas Keneally and Melissa Ashley for responding so generously when asked to read the manuscript.





SUPPORT


To strengthen the position of (a person or community) by one’s assistance, countenance or adherence; to stand by, back up.

This story is woven through the early history of the Oxford English Dictionary and I have tried to be true to the people and events of that time. I am indebted to the generosity of three people in particular: without them, this book could not have happened. Beverly McCulloch, archivist for the Oxford English Dictionary, brought me the slips, proofs, letters and photographs that furnish this book. She also read the manuscript and told me where I had erred. I am so grateful, and any remaining errors of history are mine. Peter Gilliver, lexicographer at the Oxford University Press (OUP), provided me with a text that became my bible. He also gave generously of his time, and supplied me with wonderful anecdotes that put flesh on the bones of lexicographers past. Dr Martin Maw, archivist of the University Press, also provided text and rare footage of the processes of compositing and printing the Oxford English Dictionary. I am very grateful for the time he spent talking to me about the press during WWI, and walking with me around the OUP Museum.

For their scholarship, assistance or time, I am also grateful to Lynda Mugglestone; K.M. Elizabeth Murray, author of Caught in the Web of Words; Amanda Capern for her paper on Edith Thompson; Katherine Bradley for her booklet ‘Women on the March’; the Oxford History Centre; and the good people at the State Library of South Australia, especially Neil Charter, Suzy Russell and whoever lugged all twelve volumes of the OED 1 down the spiral staircase from the Symon Library to the reading room.

I would like to thank Kaurna Warra Karrpanthi (KWK) for providing advice about Kaurna names and spelling, and Aunty Lynette for sharing her language and stories.

Finally, thank you to my local café, Sazón, for all your sustenance and good cheer. I have pushed the limits of time bought by two or three cups of coffee, and I am grateful you allow me to languish in the corner table for as long as a scene requires.





FELLOWSHIP


To unite in fellowship; to connect or associate with or to another; to enter into companionship.

So many friends have listened to me talk about this story and given me the confidence to tell it. Thank you for believing I can do it. Gwenda Jarred, Nicola Williams, Matt Turner, Ali Turner, Arlo Turner, Lisa Harrison, Ali Elder, Suzanne Verrall, Andrea Brydges, Krista Brydges, Anne Beath, Ross Balharrie, Lou-Belle Barrett, Vanessa Iles, Jane Lawson, Rebekah Clarkson, David Washington, Jolie Thomas, Mark Thomas, Margie Sarre, Greg Sarre, Suzie Riley, Christine McCabe, Evan Jones, Anji Hill.