Samuel Johnson's dictionary is best described as the first

• A. study of word origins.
• B. collection of word meanings.
• C. modern English dictionary.
• D. modern literary study.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is recognizing Johnson’s feat as a milestone in lexicography: creating a true modern English dictionary. Johnson’s work organized words into entries with carefully distinguished senses, long, insightful definitions, and abundant quotations showing real usage. That combination turned it into a practical reference tool that helped standardize how English words were understood and used, beyond just listing meanings or tracing origins. While it does include etymologies and examples, its purpose is to present a usable, comprehensive dictionary rather than to study word origins in isolation. It’s not about analyzing literature as such, but about documenting language for readers to consult. So the best description is that it is a modern English dictionary.