johnsoniana
/d͡ʒɒnˌsəʊ.niˈɑːnə/
johnsoniana means the sayings or writings of Samuel Johnson (1709–1784), English writer and lexicographer. It carries an Arena rating of 1243, earned across 71 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, johnsoniana ranks #2,419 of 17,163 for Funniest Words, #4,088 of 17,149 for Most Exacting Words, #6,058 of 17,126 for Most Satisfying to Say, #7,989 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words.
johnsoniana is pronounced /d͡ʒɒnˌsəʊ.niˈɑːnə/.
Why “johnsoniana” is a great word
JOHNSONIANA — [Noun] The collected sayings, writings, and literary remains of Samuel Johnson, the 18th-century English lexicographer and moralist. From the surname Johnson (referring to Samuel Johnson) + the Latin-derived suffix -iana (denoting things associated with a person, especially collected works or memorabilia). Unlike Johnsonian (an adjective describing his robust, Latinate style) or general ana (a loose assemblage of anecdotes about any figure), Johnsoniana is the specific, tangible corpus of the man himself. It is the heft of his folio Dictionary, the brisk cadence of a Rambler essay, and the ghost of his voice in a preserved dinner-table witticism—the secular relics of a mind that sought to order the world through definition.
Etymology
From Johnson + -iana.
noun
- The sayings or writings of Samuel Johnson (1709–1784), English writer and lexicographer.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- johnsonian 77% match — Of or pertaining to the English writer and lexicographer Samuel Johnson (1709–1784), or characteristic of his style. vs johnsoniana →
- johnsonianism 73% match — A manner of acting or writing characteristic of, Samuel Johnson (1709–1784), English writer and lexicographer. vs johnsoniana →
- johnsonianly 64% match — In a Johnsonian manner. vs johnsoniana →
- jonsonian 63% match — Of or pertaining to Ben Jonson (1572-1637), English Renaissance satirical dramatist, poet, actor and contemporary of William Shakespeare, or to his works. vs johnsoniana →
- johnsonism 61% match — Synonym of Johnsonianism. vs johnsoniana →
- jonsonesque 58% match — Reminiscent of the works of Ben Jonson (1572-1637), English Renaissance satirical dramatist, poet, actor and contemporary of William Shakespeare. vs johnsoniana →
- boswellian 52% match — Of or pertaining to James Boswell (1740–1795), Scottish lawyer and writer, best known for his biography of Samuel Johnson. vs johnsoniana →
- wordsworthian 51% match — A scholar of the works of William Wordsworth (1770–1850), English Romantic poet. vs johnsoniana →