Which term best describes Johnson's aim to settle orthography, display analogy, regulate structures, and ascertain signification?

• A. To emphasize the labor required for dictionary-making.
• B. To present a perfect final product.
• C. To dismiss earlier dictionaries as worthless.
• D. To limit the dictionary to high-flying literary terms.

Answer: (A)

The aim described is best read as emphasizing the labor involved in dictionary-making. Johnson highlights the long, careful effort required to settle spellings (orthography), show how words relate and build analogies, regulate how phrases are formed (structures), and determine what words actually mean (signification). He treats the dictionary as a substantial, painstaking project rather than a flawless finished product. This focus on the extensive work behind the compilation is why the choice stressing labor is the most fitting way to describe his aim.

The other options clash with Johnson’s stance. He did not present a flawless final product, acknowledging the difficulty and ongoing nature of language. He did not dismiss earlier dictionaries as worthless; his work builds on and responds to prior lexicography. And he did not intend to confine the dictionary to elite literary terms, since his project aimed to standardize and clarify language used across all registers.