For his 1755 "Dictionary of the English Language", he wrote definitions for more than 40,000 words
In which the words ... - AbeBooks [PAR] He codified the spelling of English words; he gave full and lucid definitions of ... 
His dictionary [is the] most amazing, enduring and endearing one-man feat in ... 
1755, in an edition of 2000 copies, it is estimated that slightly more than half 
survive.