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Murray (SIR JAMES AUGUSTUS HENRY)

SIR JAMES AUGUSTUS HENRY, a British lexicographer; born in Denholm, Roxburgshire, Scotland, in 1837. He has long been compiling "A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles" (first number 1888), founded mainly on materials collected by the Philological Society. The aim of this dictionary "is to furnish an adequate account of the meaning, origin, and history of English words now in general use, or known to have been in use at any time during the past 700 years." Its purpose is "not to dictate to usage, but to record usage." Dr. Murray also published "Dialect of the Southern Counties of Scotland," and similar philological studies. He died in 1915.