However "strange it may appear, it is nevertheless quite true," that this
word, "_Starvation_ {152} (from the verb), state of perishing from cold or
hunger," is to be found, and thus defined, in "An Appendix to Dr. Johnson's
English Dictionary," published along with the latter, by William Maver, in
2 vols. 8vo., Glasgow, 1809, now forty-five years ago. In his preface to
this Appendix he says:
"In the compilation the editor is principally indebted to Mr. Mason,
whose labours in supplying the deficiencies of Dr. Johnson's Dictionary
have so much enriched the vocabulary of our language, that every
purchaser of the quarto edition should avail himself of a copy of Mr.
Mason's Supplement."
Whether or not Mr. Maver drew the word "starvation" from Mr. Mason's
Supplement, I cannot say; but from old date in the west of Scotland it has
been, and is still, popularly and extensively used in the exact senses
given to it by Mr. Maver as above. I think it much more likely to be of
Scottish than of American origin, and that Mr. Webster may have picked it
up from some of our natives in this country.
I may add, that in early life I often spoke with Mr. Maver, who was a most
intelligent literary man. In 1809 he followed the business of a bookseller
in Glasgow, but from some cause was not fortunate, and afterwards followed
that of a book auctioneer, and may be dead fully thirty years ago. His
edition of, and Appendix to, Johnson were justly esteemed; the latter
"containing several thousand words omitted by Dr. Johnson, and such as have
been introduced by good writers since his time," with "the pronunciation
according to the present practice of the best orators and orthoepists" of
the whole language.