The Gallery of Fine Dictionary Art

Many people outside the copy editing profession wonder, "What exactly is it that you DO all night at the newspaper?" And the answer, oftentimes, is: We look at pictures in the dictionary. These are favorites from the Fourth Edition of Webster's New World College Dictionary, which can be ordered from amazon.com.

(The link is included in hopes that the kind folks at Webster's will accept this tribute as a free commercial and not as a copyright violation.)

Exhibit No. 1: The Classic

Arms akimbo

For many copy editors, "Arms Akimbo" is THE definition of fine dictionary art. Functional and fascinating at the same time, it not only shows us what "akimbo" means, it intrigues us with questions about the model, who is at once defiant in her body language yet pensive, perhaps pained, in her countenance. It also leads many to wonder, "Where are her legs, and are they akimbo, too?" Indeed, this may well be the Mona Lisa of the dictionary art world.

Exhibit No. 2 The Imponderable

When hastily flipping past "sphincter" en route to "spontaneity," one cannot help but pause and reflect for a moment at "Sponges," which is at once romantic (in the nature-based sense) yet futuristic (in the, "What the hell IS that?" sense.) The flowing curves, the stark coloring and the soft, brainlike appendage at the top may lead to thoughts such as, "Perhaps we are all somewhat like sponges," not to mention "Is Paul dead?" and "Have you ever looked at your hands? I mean REALLY looked at your hands?"

Exhibit No. 4: The Enforcer
Obey me

After a dalliance in the fantasy world of the sponge, we need a grounding in discipline, a foundation in conformity, and that grounded, disciplined, conformist founder is "Buzz Cut." Part Dick Butkus, part Norman Schwarzkopf and part woodblock fitted with coarse-grit sandpaper, this uber-master of  order reminds us that our time in the dictionary is not meant to be spent in idle pursuits; rather, it is for us to complete a task, HIS task.
 
 

Exhibit No. 5: The Inexplicable

What's a fillip?

Isn't that freaky?

Exhibit No. 6: Togetherness

We are the world

Like the word it brings to light, "Mask" is hiding something. It is hiding multiple layers of meaning that peel back as we seek to answer its unanswerable questions: Who are these people? Why are they hiding behind masks? Do they have some secret shame?Why is a surgeon (gentle healer) juxtaposed with a jet pilot (militaristic killer)? Why does everyone stare out of the frame except for the lumpy-chinned lad known to us only as "DISGUISE?" But when we consider that all these varied images have been thrown together in one conglomeration, the clear answer emerges: There is a little bit of mask in everyone, and a little bit of everyone in "Mask."
 
 
 

Would you like to nominate a dictionary illustration for the gallery? Send it, and your review, to [email protected].
 

Just take me to the jokes.
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