Read the excerpt from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.


The two languages from which our primitives have been derived are the Roman and Teutonick: under the Roman I comprehend the French and provincial tongues; and under the Teutonick range the Saxon, German, and all their kindred dialects.


The underlined word emerges as a key term in Johnson’s preface because it


clarifies words’ pronunciations.

questions words’ literary importance.

explains words’ origins and variations.

offers criticism of words’ common usages.