The New and Complete Dictionary of the English Language. In which all the words are introduced, the different spellings preserved. To which is prefixed a comprehensive grammar. In two volumes.

8vo. A nice clean copy. Contemp. full speckled calf, gilt ruled spine, red morocco labels; a little rubbed but a very nice copy in contemporary binding. Alston V 288; ESTC T85693. FIRST EDITION, 'variant 3' with '[Price Twelve Shillings bound.]' beneath the date on titlepage. ESTC does not note the 'P' lacking from '[P]rinted' in the imprint. This edition was also issued as two volumes in one with volume I titlepage only. Printed in two columns. John Ash, c.1724-79, was a Baptist minister and lexicographer. Having previously published in 1766 An Introduction to Lowth's English Grammar, Ash's Dictionary 'incorporates most of Bailey's collection of canting words, and many provincial terms' (ODNB). He is perhaps best known for his blunder under 'curmudgeon' which Johnson derived from 'cœur méchant, which was attributed to an 'unknown correspondent'; Ash describes it as 'from the French cœur, unknown, and mechant, a correspondent'.