H. B. Wolf, managing editor of Webster’s Third International Dictionary, said today that such descriptions of Jews in the new edition of the dictionary as “a person believed to drive a hard bargain” are always qualified by the expression “usually use disparagingly” or “usually taken to be offensive.” The negative definitions of the word “Jew” in the new edition provoked inquiries.
In a telephone interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency from Springfield, Mass., headquarters of the dictionary’s publishers, the Merriam Company, Mr. Wolf said that it was the philosophy of the dictionary’s editorial staff that any dictionary that is supposed to present a record of the English language as it is used in the year of publication should present most current usages of words.
He said the Third New International Dictionary defines Jews in three categories–noun, adjective and verb, and in several “senses.” The noun “Jew” in the new 1961 edition includes as one of the “senses” the definition “A person believed to drive a hard bargain.” Mr. Wolf noted the phrase “believed to” as indicating popular usage and understanding of one of the “senses.”
The adjective “Jewish” has as one descriptive phrase, “usually taken to be offensive.” The verb includes a definition “to cheat by sharp business practice” and this is followed by the phrase “usually taken to be offensive.” The word “kike” also appears in the new edition, as a definition of Jew, followed by the phrase “usually taken to be offensive.”
Dr. P.G. Gove, editor of the Dictionary, confirmed to the JTA that the offending definitions were eliminated in the 1949 printing of the second edition and not restored in subsequent printings of that edition. He said this was done to make room for new words related to jet propulsion and not because of any feeling that the definition should be removed because they might be offensive.
Mr. Wolf told the JTA that similar admittedly derogatory definitions of other groups also appear in the new edition, such as Dago for a person of Italian or Spanish descent, and the term “nigger,” in the definition of Negro, also described as “usually taken to be offensive.” He said no protests had been received from groups representing any of the nationals or descendants of groups whose definitions in the dictionary included insulting or offensive definitions arising from popular usage.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
