The first complete edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was published in 1928.
The dictionary was originally published in parts over several decades under the title A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles. The first part appeared in 1884, but the complete first edition was not finished until 1928. It contained more than 400,000 words and phrases, supported by quotations showing how meanings and usages developed over time.
The project began in the nineteenth century with the Philological Society, which argued that English needed a comprehensive historical dictionary. James Murray became the most famous editor, directing much of the work from the Scriptorium at Oxford.
The OED is different from an ordinary school dictionary because it traces word histories. Its entries document earlier spellings, meanings, pronunciations, and examples rather than simply giving a modern definition. A second edition appeared in 1989, combining the original volumes with later supplements.