life of samuel johnson, the: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Literary/Academic
Quick answer
What does “life of samuel johnson, the” mean?
The title of a famous biography, specifically James Boswell's biographical work about the literary figure Samuel Johnson.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The title of a famous biography, specifically James Boswell's biographical work about the literary figure Samuel Johnson.
A metonymic reference to Boswell's biography itself; can refer to the book, its content, its literary style, or its status as a monumental work in the genre of biography.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage; the work is equally canonical in both British and American literary studies.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes exhaustive biography, literary genius, and a foundational text of English literature.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in general discourse, but higher within literary and historical academic contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “life of samuel johnson, the” in a Sentence
[verb] + The Life of Samuel Johnson (e.g., 'study', 'cite', 'publish an abridged version of')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “life of samuel johnson, the” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They had to abridge *The Life of Samuel Johnson* for the school syllabus.
- He is currently annotating *The Life of Samuel Johnson*.
American English
- She assigned *The Life of Samuel Johnson* for her class on biography.
- The professor quoted extensively from *The Life of Samuel Johnson*.
adverb
British English
- He spoke Boswellianly, as if narrating his own *Life of Samuel Johnson*.
- The figure was depicted Johnsonianly, following the portrait in *The Life of Samuel Johnson*.
American English
- She described the scene comprehensively, almost Boswellian in the style of *The Life of Samuel Johnson*.
- He argued persuasively, citing *The Life of Samuel Johnson* authoritatively.
adjective
British English
- The Boswellian style of *The Life of Samuel Johnson* is much admired.
- It's a Johnsonian detail from *The Life of Samuel Johnson*.
American English
- Her thesis explores the biographical techniques in *The Life of Samuel Johnson*.
- It's a cornerstone text for Life-of-Samuel-Johnson studies.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Commonly referenced in literature, history, and biography courses; a touchstone for biographical method.
Everyday
Extremely rare outside of educated discussion about literature.
Technical
Used in literary criticism and historiography as a primary source and a model of biographical writing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “life of samuel johnson, the”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “life of samuel johnson, the”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “life of samuel johnson, the”
- Omitting the definite article 'The' when referring to the title (*'Life of Samuel Johnson'), Incorrectly capitalizing 'of' in the title (should be 'The Life of Samuel Johnson').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It was written by James Boswell, a Scottish lawyer and diarist, and published in 1791.
It is celebrated for its unprecedented depth of detail, intimate portrayal of its subject, and its establishment of modern biographical standards. It preserved Johnson's wit and conversation for posterity.
No, it is a biography. Samuel Johnson did not write it; it was written about him by his friend and admirer, James Boswell.
Yes, when writing the full formal title, it is standard to capitalize the initial 'The' as part of the title: *The Life of Samuel Johnson*. In running text, if the sentence structure doesn't allow it (e.g., starting a sentence), it may be lowercased, but it remains an integral part of the reference.
The title of a famous biography, specifically James Boswell's biographical work about the literary figure Samuel Johnson.
Life of samuel johnson, the is usually formal/literary/academic in register.
Life of samuel johnson, the: in British English it is pronounced /ðə ˈlaɪf əv ˈsæm.ju.əl ˈdʒɒn.sən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ðə ˈlaɪf əv ˈsæm.ju.əl ˈdʒɑːn.sən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A Boswell (meaning a devoted biographer or constant companion, derived from this work)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BosWELL told the story very WELL.' This links the author (Boswell) to the comprehensive nature of the biography.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LIFE IS A BOOK (to be read and studied); A MONUMENT (a towering achievement).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' primarily known as?