lexicography

Noun

lexicography (countable and uncountable, plural lexicographies)

1. (uncountable) The art or craft of compiling, writing, and editing dictionaries.
   • [T]here are ſeveral Species of Writing, in which a proper Degree of Hebetude is abſolutely neceſſary, as well as in other profeſſions; such as Lexicography, Index-making, and the like; [...]1735 March 4, “Craftsman, Feb. 22 [Julian calendar]. Nº 451.”, in Sylvanus Urban [pseudonym; Edward Cave], editor, The Gentleman’s Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, volume V, London: […] Edward...
   • And ſuch is the fate of hapleſs lexicography, that not only darkneſs, but light, impedes and diſtreſſes it; things may be not only too little, but too much known, to be happily illuſtrated.1755 April 15, Samuel Johnson, “Preface”, in A Dictionary of the English Language: […], volume I (A–K), London: […] J[ohn] and P[aul] Knapton; […], →OCLC
2. (uncountable) The scholarly discipline of analysing and describing the semantic, syntagmatic and paradigmatic relationships within the lexicon (vocabulary) of a language and developing theories of dictionary components and structures linking the data in dictionaries.
   • But changes of this nature belong to lexicography, as they do not affect the grammatical forms of words.1828, Moses Stuart, “Changes of Consonants”, in A Grammar of the Hebrew Language, 3rd edition, Andover, Mass.: Flagg & Gould, →OCLC, part II (Changes and Peculiarities of Consonants and Verbs), §...
   • What the history of language in general teaches, that in course of time, there is less change in form than signification, in grammar than lexicography, is true of the Greek.1840, Geo. Benedict Winer [i.e., Georg Benedikt Winer], “§ 4. Grammatical Character of the N.T. Diction.”, in J. H Agnew, O. G. Ebbeke, transl., A Grammar of the Idioms of the Greek Language of the...
3. (countable) A dictionary, a lexicon, a wordbook.
   • There can be no doubt, that in a general sense a boat is a vessel, for it is "a vehicle in which men or goods are carried on the water," which is one of the definitions of a vessel given in our lexicographies; [...]1828 October, Joseph Story, Associate Judge of the Supreme Court; William P. Mason (reporter), “United States vs. an Open Boat and Lading”, in Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Circuit...
   • "Air put in motion" is the brief description of the wind in lexicographies; but what a contrast in quality according to its direction; [...]1855 March, “A Bag of Wind”, in Putnam’s Monthly. A Magazine of Literature, Science, and Art, volume V, number XXVII, New York, N.Y.: Dix & Edwards, […]; London: Sampson Low, Son & Co., →OCLC, page...