and I have often endeavoured to direct the choice.

Thus have I laboured by settling the orthography, displaying the
analogy, regulating the structures, and ascertaining the signification
of English words, to perform all the parts of a faithful lexicographer:
but I have not always executed my own scheme, or satisfied my own
expectations. The work, whatever proofs of diligence and attention
it may exhibit, is yet capable of many improvements: the orthography
which I recommend is still controvertible, the etymology which I
adopt is uncertain, and perhaps frequently erroneous; the explanations
are sometimes too much contracted, and sometimes too much diffused,
the significations are distinguished rather with subtilty than
skill, and the attention is harrassed with unnecessary minuteness.

The examples are too often injudiciously truncated, and perhaps
sometimes, I hope very rarely, alleged in a mistaken sense; for in
making this collection I trusted more to memory, than, in a state
of disquiet and embarrassment, memory can contain, and purposed
to supply at the review what was left incomplete in the first
transcription.

Many terms appropriated to particular occupations, though necessary
and significant, are undoubtedly omitted; and of the words most
studiously considered and exemplified, many senses have escaped
observation.

Yet these failures, however frequent, may admit extenuation and
apology. To have attempted much is always laudable, even when the
enterprize is above the strength that undertakes it: To rest below
his own aim is incident to every one whose fancy is active, and