Whitman’s Spellings

Which spellings in the first edition of Leaves of Grass, printed in 1855, were usual in Walt Whitman’s day, which were older forms still in use, which were his own, and which were slips, each beside a dictionary of his time.

I loafe and invite my soul, (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 13) — **“I loafe and invite my soul,”** on page 13 of the 1855 book, and the verb in Joseph Worcester’s dictionary of 1860.^1,6

Worcester, 1860, page 849: LOAF, v. n. To idle away one’s time; to be idle; to lounge. [Modern and low.] Neal. — **“I loafe and invite my soul,”** on page 13 of the 1855 book, and the verb in Joseph Worcester’s dictionary of 1860.^1,6

The first poem’s fourth line has a word no dictionary of the day spelled that way. Worcester’s gives the verb as loaf and marks it “Modern and low”; Noah Webster’s, of 1828, knows loaf only as bread.^3,6 Whitman kept the e in every edition through 1891–92.²

Was spelling looser then, so that a poet could spell as he liked? For a small, well-known set of words it was. For most words it wasn’t, and which spelling was correct was argued over, in print and in the schools, between two dictionaries.

Of the book’s spellings that differ from today’s, we read 41 against the dictionaries of the day. The cards below hold 37 of them, grouped by kind. Each card shows the word as printed in the Library of Congress’s copy of the 1855 book, and under it a dictionary of the day, Webster’s of 1828 or Worcester’s of 1860; a click opens the page itself. How common a spelling was in American books of the 1850s is from Google’s Ngram Viewer, a rough measure: it counts words read by machine from scanned books, dated by the libraries’ catalogues. What the later editions printed is read in the Walt Whitman Archive’s transcriptions.^1,2,18

1. How settled was spelling in 1855?

In 1855 an American checking a spelling had two dictionaries to choose from. Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language (1828), revised in 1847 by Chauncey A. Goodrich of Yale, wrote center, behavior and traveler. Joseph E. Worcester’s, from Boston (1846, and larger in 1860), kept closer to English use.^3,4,6,7

Webster had once gone further. His Compendious Dictionary of 1806 prints tung, ake and soop.⁵ Goodrich wrote in 1847 that Webster had spelled “fether for feather,” and that “After an experiment of twelve years, he restored the old orthography.” What lasted are the spellings Americans still use: -or for -our, -er for -re, music without its k, traveler with one l, and defense.⁴

Worcester’s dictionary of 1860 sets out, over four pages, a “Vocabulary of Words of Doubtful or Various Orthography”: in one column the spellings it calls “well authorized, and in most cases preferable,” in the other those where “there is a great diversity.” Spelling as a whole, it says, had held “a comparatively settled form” for “a century or upwards.”⁶

The two dictionaries’ makers and publishers fought for three decades: “a feud that lasted three decades and forced American literati to declare allegiance to one camp or the other,” in the words of a Grolier Club exhibition. In 1854 Webster’s publishers, G. and C. Merriam, put out a pamphlet called A Gross Literary Fraud Exposed, against a London edition of Worcester’s book sold with Webster’s name on its spine.⁸ Both sides wanted the schools. In 1855, the year of Leaves of Grass, Wisconsin’s legislature bought a Webster’s for each school district in the state.¹⁰ An advertisement of 1848, as H. L. Mencken reports it, claimed that Webster’s spelling book sold more than a million copies a year.⁹

Whitman was writing about language as the book came out. In notes for a lecture, written on sheets made from the paper covers of unbound copies of the 1855 book and published after his death as An American Primer, he wrote:^11,12

“Now, in the 80th year of These States, there is a little diversity in the ways of spelling words, and much diversity in the ways of pronouncing them;—steamships, railroads, newspapers, submarine telegraphs, will probably bring them in.—If not, it is not important.”

And a little later: “The spelling of words is subordinate.—Morbidness for nice spelling, and tenacity for or against some one letter or so, means dandyism and impotence in literature.”¹¹ The eightieth year of the States, counted from 1776, is 1855–56.¹²

So the idea that spelling was looser in his day is right about a handful of words, the ones with two authorities: -our or -or, -re or -er, one l or two, ecstasy or extasy. It isn’t right about correctness. Most words were settled, and correct spelling mattered enough to fight over. What differed from today is that a writer, or his printer, could follow either of two authorities and be right.

2. Who chose a book’s spelling

The printers’ manuals of the day left spelling to the printer, unless the author spelled his own way. Thomas F. Adams’s Typographia (Philadelphia, 1854) says authors “will generally allow” the printer “to be a pretty competent judge of orthography,” and names the dictionaries of Walker and Johnson, both English, as the authorities. It also tells the proofreader to “follow his copy … with all its defects”: “With the spirit, the opinions, the whims of an author, no corrector of the press has any business to interfere.” Whatever authority the printer chose, “the system of spelling, &c. must not be varied in the same work.”¹³ Thomas MacKellar’s American Printer says the same in 1871, and refuses Webster’s -or: “we shall adhere to the established usage.”¹⁴

Whitman paid for the 1855 book and had it printed in Brooklyn by Andrew Rome, in a small shop that printed legal forms. He set a little of the type himself: of about a hundred pages, “I set up ten or so,” he told Horace Traubel in 1888.^15,17 The shop was not fussy. A broadside it printed in 1854 has “Railrood” and “minntes’,” and the 1855 book was corrected while it was on the press (“adn” became “and” on page iv) but kept “abode” for “adobe” on page 23.¹⁶ Nicole Gray writes that “Whitman or someone else at the print shop did evidently proof the pages … as they were coming off the press.”¹⁶

So who chose loafe? Very likely Whitman: the manuals bound the shop to follow an author’s copy and his “whims,” he paid for the book, and he was in the shop while it was set. That is an inference. No record of the shop’s practice survives that we know of, and we know of no surviving manuscript of the book as he gave it to the printers.^13,16 How Whitman made his books says more about the shop and its press.

3. His own

Spellings no dictionary of the day gives, and few or no other American books of the 1850s used. He kept most of them to the end.

one of the roughs, a kosmos, (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 29) — **kosmos** · “Walt Whitman, an American, one of the roughs, a kosmos,” page 29. No American dictionary of the 1850s we read has the word as an entry, with a k or a c. Worcester’s of 1860 uses *cosmos* once, to define *world*, “the universe; *cosmos*,” and quotes an old translation of Pliny: “the world, which the Greeks, by the name of ornament, called ‘kosmos.’” Whitman’s notes for *An American Primer* list “Kosmos words.” He kept the k to the end, and in 1881 added *kosmic*. Where the k came from, we haven’t settled.^2,6,11

Worcester, 1860, page 1683: WORLD, n. 1. The whole system of created things; all created existences; the universe; cosmos. … For the world, which the Greeks, by the name of ornament, called “kosmos,” we, for the perfect neatness and absolute elegancy thereof, have termed “mundus.” Holland’s Pl. — **kosmos** · “Walt Whitman, an American, one of the roughs, a kosmos,” page 29. No American dictionary of the 1850s we read has the word as an entry, with a k or a c. Worcester’s of 1860 uses *cosmos* once, to define *world*, “the universe; *cosmos*,” and quotes an old translation of Pliny: “the world, which the Greeks, by the name of ornament, called ‘kosmos.’” Whitman’s notes for *An American Primer* list “Kosmos words.” He kept the k to the end, and in 1881 added *kosmic*. Where the k came from, we haven’t settled.^2,6,11

of carts and sluff of bootsoles (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 18) — **sluff** · “the tires of carts and sluff of bootsoles,” page 18. His own, or a word of its own. The dictionaries spell the word *slough* and give its sound: Worcester’s of 1860, “SLOUGH (sluf) … The cast skin of a serpent.” The same book spells the cast skin *slough*: “the slough still sticks to opinions” (the preface, page iii). Among cart tires and boot soles, *sluff* may be the sound of feet on the pavement rather than a spelling of *slough*; we can’t tell. American books of the 1850s almost never print it. He kept it to the end.^1,2,6,18

Worcester, 1860, page 1356: SLOUGH (sluf), n. 1. The cast skin of a serpent; a tegument. — **sluff** · “the tires of carts and sluff of bootsoles,” page 18. His own, or a word of its own. The dictionaries spell the word *slough* and give its sound: Worcester’s of 1860, “SLOUGH (sluf) … The cast skin of a serpent.” The same book spells the cast skin *slough*: “the slough still sticks to opinions” (the preface, page iii). Among cart tires and boot soles, *sluff* may be the sound of feet on the pavement rather than a spelling of *slough*; we can’t tell. American books of the 1850s almost never print it. He kept it to the end.^1,2,6,18

branches of liveoak, loving lounger (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 30) — **liveoak, freetrade, fatherstuff** · “branches of liveoak,” page 30; “books, freetrade, railroads,” page 95; “and of the fatherstuff,” page 29. His own way of joining words. Worcester’s of 1860 hyphens the tree, LIVE′-OAK; Goodrich’s revision of Webster has FREE′-TRADE, with a hyphen, among its added words; no dictionary we read has *fatherstuff*. In American books of the 1850s, *liveoak* written as one word is about one in thirty uses, and *freetrade* one in sixty. The edition of 1856 hyphened *live-oak* and *free-trade*; *fatherstuff* stayed one word until 1881. The 1855 book joins many such words: *loveroot* and *silkthread* (page 13), *bootsoles* (page 18).^2,4,6,18

books, freetrade, railroads, (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 95) — **liveoak, freetrade, fatherstuff** · “branches of liveoak,” page 30; “books, freetrade, railroads,” page 95; “and of the fatherstuff,” page 29. His own way of joining words. Worcester’s of 1860 hyphens the tree, LIVE′-OAK; Goodrich’s revision of Webster has FREE′-TRADE, with a hyphen, among its added words; no dictionary we read has *fatherstuff*. In American books of the 1850s, *liveoak* written as one word is about one in thirty uses, and *freetrade* one in sixty. The edition of 1856 hyphened *live-oak* and *free-trade*; *fatherstuff* stayed one word until 1881. The 1855 book joins many such words: *loveroot* and *silkthread* (page 13), *bootsoles* (page 18).^2,4,6,18

4. Older forms, still in use

Spellings going out of use in America but still printed, most of them still the English spelling. His later editions changed most of them.

Behaviour lawless as snow-flakes (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 44) — **behaviour** · “Behaviour lawless as snow-flakes,” page 44. It is the book’s only *-our* word but one, *enamoured*; the same book prints *color*, *odor*, *labor* and *neighbors*. Worcester noticed the habit, in 1846 and again in 1860: “A very few writers have retained the u in the above enumerated words which are not of Latin origin, and omitted it in all the others.” In American books of the 1850s about four uses in ten still spelled it *behaviour*. In 1860, set in Boston, it became *behavior*.^1,2,6,7,18

Worcester, 1860, page xxvi: not derived from the Latin. A very few writers have retained the u in the above enumerated words which are not of Latin origin, and omitted it in all the others. — **behaviour** · “Behaviour lawless as snow-flakes,” page 44. It is the book’s only *-our* word but one, *enamoured*; the same book prints *color*, *odor*, *labor* and *neighbors*. Worcester noticed the habit, in 1846 and again in 1860: “A very few writers have retained the u in the above enumerated words which are not of Latin origin, and omitted it in all the others.” In American books of the 1850s about four uses in ten still spelled it *behaviour*. In 1860, set in Boston, it became *behavior*.^1,2,6,7,18

perience and has much extasy over the word and deed (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page viii) — **extasy** · “has much extasy over the word and deed,” the preface, page viii. Still allowed: Webster’s of 1828 lists *extasy* and sends the reader to *ecstasy*; Worcester’s of 1860 sets *ecstasy* among the forms “well authorized,” and *ecstacy* and *extasy* among those where “there is a great diversity.” By the 1850s fewer than one use in fifty, in American books, was *extasy*. *Extatic* stayed in his poems until 1881, when it became *ecstatic*.^2,3,6,18

Worcester, 1860, page xxx: Two rows of a list in two columns: Ecstasy, beside Ecstacy, Extasy; Ecstatic, beside Extatic. — **extasy** · “has much extasy over the word and deed,” the preface, page viii. Still allowed: Webster’s of 1828 lists *extasy* and sends the reader to *ecstasy*; Worcester’s of 1860 sets *ecstasy* among the forms “well authorized,” and *ecstacy* and *extasy* among those where “there is a great diversity.” By the 1850s fewer than one use in fifty, in American books, was *extasy*. *Extatic* stayed in his poems until 1881, when it became *ecstatic*.^2,3,6,18

They shall be kosmos . . without monopoly or secre- / sy . . glad to pass any thing to any one . . hungry for (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page vii) — **secresy** · “without monopoly or secresy,” the preface, page vii, broken over two lines. Webster’s own: his dictionary of 1828 enters the word as SE′CRECY, then spells it *secresy* in his own definitions, as in *leak*, “to escape privately from confinement or secresy.” About one American use in eight in the 1850s spelled it so. The passage was not kept in 1856.^2,3,18

Webster, 1828, vol. 2: To leak out, to find vent; to escape privately from confinement or secresy; as a fact or — **secresy** · “without monopoly or secresy,” the preface, page vii, broken over two lines. Webster’s own: his dictionary of 1828 enters the word as SE′CRECY, then spells it *secresy* in his own definitions, as in *leak*, “to escape privately from confinement or secresy.” About one American use in eight in the 1850s spelled it so. The passage was not kept in 1856.^2,3,18

be transcendant and new. It is to be (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page iv) — **transcendant** · “the expression of the American poet is to be transcendant and new,” the preface, page iv. Webster’s of 1828 enters TRANSCEND′ENT, and under *monarchal* quotes Milton with the a: “Satan, whom now transcendant glory raised / Above his fellows, with monarchal pride.” In American books it was going out: about one use in four in the 1840s, one in eight in the 1850s. The passage was not kept in 1856.^2,3,18

Webster, 1828, vol. 2: MONARCHAL, a. Pertaining to a monarch; suiting a monarch; sovereign; regal; imperial. Satan, whom now transcendant glory raised Above his fellows, with monarchal pride— Milton. — **transcendant** · “the expression of the American poet is to be transcendant and new,” the preface, page iv. Webster’s of 1828 enters TRANSCEND′ENT, and under *monarchal* quotes Milton with the a: “Satan, whom now transcendant glory raised / Above his fellows, with monarchal pride.” In American books it was going out: about one use in four in the 1840s, one in eight in the 1850s. The passage was not kept in 1856.^2,3,18

show that size is only developement. (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 26) — **developement** · “I show that size is only developement.” page 26. Going out: in American books, about one use in seven in the 1840s, one in thirty in the 1850s. Worcester’s of 1860 lists *development* as well authorized and *developement* as the other. The edition of 1856 prints *development*.^2,6,18

Worcester, 1860, page xxx: Two rows of a list in two columns: Develop, beside Develope; Development, beside Developement. — **developement** · “I show that size is only developement.” page 26. Going out: in American books, about one use in seven in the 1840s, one in thirty in the 1850s. Worcester’s of 1860 lists *development* as well authorized and *developement* as the other. The edition of 1856 prints *development*.^2,6,18

tenants . . . . the deposite in the (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 63) — **deposite** · “the other tenants . . . . the deposite in the savings-bank,” page 63. Worcester’s of 1860 lists *deposit* as well authorized and *deposite* as the other. In American books, about three uses in ten in the 1840s, one in nine in the 1850s. The edition of 1856 kept it; that of 1860 prints *deposit*.^2,6,18

Worcester, 1860, page xxx: A row of a list in two columns: Deposit, beside Deposite. — **deposite** · “the other tenants . . . . the deposite in the savings-bank,” page 63. Worcester’s of 1860 lists *deposit* as well authorized and *deposite* as the other. In American books, about three uses in ten in the 1840s, one in nine in the 1850s. The edition of 1856 kept it; that of 1860 prints *deposit*.^2,6,18

The pedlar sweats with his pack on (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 22) — **pedlar** · “The pedlar sweats with his pack on his back,” page 22. The English form. Worcester’s of 1860: “From *peddle* the regular verbal noun would be *peddler*; but the noun is commonly written *pedler*, and sometimes *pedlar*.” In American books of the 1850s the three ran *pedler* about 45 uses in a hundred, *pedlar* 30, *peddler* 25. In 1860, set in Boston, it became *pedler*.^2,6,18

Worcester, 1860, page xxvii: beggar and liar. From peddle the regular verbal noun would be peddler; but the noun is commonly written pedler, and sometimes pedlar.—See PEDLER. — **pedlar** · “The pedlar sweats with his pack on his back,” page 22. The English form. Worcester’s of 1860: “From *peddle* the regular verbal noun would be *peddler*; but the noun is commonly written *pedler*, and sometimes *pedlar*.” In American books of the 1850s the three ran *pedler* about 45 uses in a hundred, *pedlar* 30, *peddler* 25. In 1860, set in Boston, it became *pedler*.^2,6,18

ensemble characterise the great master . . (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page viii) — **characterise** · “Sanity and ensemble characterise the great master,” the preface, page viii. Worcester’s of 1860: “Verbs derived from Greek verbs ending in ιζω, and others formed after the same analogy, have the termination *ize*; as, *agonize*, *characterize*.” About one American use in fourteen spelled it with an s. The passage was not kept in 1856.^2,6,18

Worcester, 1860, page xxvii: Verbs derived from Greek verbs ending in ιζω, and others formed after the same analogy, have the termination ize; as, agonize, characterize;—but words derived from the French prendre, have — **characterise** · “Sanity and ensemble characterise the great master,” the preface, page viii. Worcester’s of 1860: “Verbs derived from Greek verbs ending in ιζω, and others formed after the same analogy, have the termination *ize*; as, *agonize*, *characterize*.” About one American use in fourteen spelled it with an s. The passage was not kept in 1856.^2,6,18

. . falls on the black of his polish’d (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 20) — **polish’d, hem’d, stucco’d** · “the black of his polish’d and perfect limbs,” page 20; “the wharf hem’d cities,” the preface, page iv; “And am stucco’d with quadrupeds,” page 34. An old habit of poets and printers: an apostrophe for the e of *-ed* where it isn’t spoken. The 1855 book has five such words, against more than six hundred spelled *-ed*; twelve years later it was his rule (*What the editions did*, below). He told Traubel in 1888: “The practice comes to me legitimately from the old dramatists … I extend it to my prose for uniformity’s sake.”^2,15

coming of immigrants—the wharf hem’d (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page iv) — **polish’d, hem’d, stucco’d** · “the black of his polish’d and perfect limbs,” page 20; “the wharf hem’d cities,” the preface, page iv; “And am stucco’d with quadrupeds,” page 34. An old habit of poets and printers: an apostrophe for the e of *-ed* where it isn’t spoken. The 1855 book has five such words, against more than six hundred spelled *-ed*; twelve years later it was his rule (*What the editions did*, below). He told Traubel in 1888: “The practice comes to me legitimately from the old dramatists … I extend it to my prose for uniformity’s sake.”^2,15

5. Usual then, odd now

Spellings that look English or old to an American today, and were the usual ones in American books of the 1850s.

centre of the crowd; (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 18) — **centre, theatre, fibre, spectres** · “to the centre of the crowd,” page 18; “the small theatre of the antique,” the preface, page iii; “fibre of manly wheat,” page 30; “nor feed on the spectres in books,” page 14. Webster’s of 1828 has *center*, *fiber* and *specter*, and both *theater* and *theatre*; Worcester’s of 1860: “There is a class of words, ending in *tre*, as *centre*, *metre*, &c., which are by some written *center*, *meter*, &c.; but the former mode is supported by the prevailing usage.” In American books of the 1850s the *-re* spelling was about nine uses in ten for each of them. He kept all four to the end.^2,3,6,18

than the small theatre of the antique (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page iii) — **centre, theatre, fibre, spectres** · “to the centre of the crowd,” page 18; “the small theatre of the antique,” the preface, page iii; “fibre of manly wheat,” page 30; “nor feed on the spectres in books,” page 14. Webster’s of 1828 has *center*, *fiber* and *specter*, and both *theater* and *theatre*; Worcester’s of 1860: “There is a class of words, ending in *tre*, as *centre*, *metre*, &c., which are by some written *center*, *meter*, &c.; but the former mode is supported by the prevailing usage.” In American books of the 1850s the *-re* spelling was about nine uses in ten for each of them. He kept all four to the end.^2,3,6,18

and all reasoning. What is marvellous? (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page v) — **marvellous** · “What is marvellous?” the preface, page v. Worcester’s of 1860 says that verbs ending in l “are allowed, by general usage, to double the l, though the accent is not on the last syllable,” as in *libel* and *libellous*. About three American uses in four doubled it. The passage was not kept in 1856; a later poem has *marvelous*.^2,6,18

Worcester, 1860, page xxvii: There is an exception to the last clause of the preceding rule, with respect to most of the verbs ending in the letter l, which, on assuming an additional syllable, are allowed, by general usage, to double the l, though the accent is not on the last syllable; as, travel, travelling, travelled, traveller; libel, libelling, libelled, libeller, libellous. But — **marvellous** · “What is marvellous?” the preface, page v. Worcester’s of 1860 says that verbs ending in l “are allowed, by general usage, to double the l, though the accent is not on the last syllable,” as in *libel* and *libellous*. About three American uses in four doubled it. The passage was not kept in 1856; a later poem has *marvelous*.^2,6,18

sprawl and fulness of babes . . . (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 78) — **fulness** · “The sprawl and fulness of babes,” page 78. Worcester’s of 1860 lists *fulness* as well authorized and *fullness* as the other, and about seven American uses in ten had one l. He kept it to the end.^2,6,18

Worcester, 1860, page xxx: A row of a list in two columns: Fulness, beside Fullness. — **fulness** · “The sprawl and fulness of babes,” page 78. Worcester’s of 1860 lists *fulness* as well authorized and *fullness* as the other, and about seven American uses in ten had one l. He kept it to the end.^2,6,18

boy is the programme of all good. (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 84) — **programme** · “This face of a healthy honest boy is the programme of all good,” page 84. Worcester’s of 1860 gives PRO′GRAM as “the English form of the word, long since introduced; but the French *programme* is more commonly used.” Three American uses in four agreed. He kept it to the end.^2,6,18

Worcester, 1860, page 1137: PROGRAM, n. A programme. Bailey. “In an official program.” Ed. Rev. This is the English form of the word, long since introduced; but the French programme is more commonly used.—See PROGRAMME. — **programme** · “This face of a healthy honest boy is the programme of all good,” page 84. Worcester’s of 1860 gives PRO′GRAM as “the English form of the word, long since introduced; but the French *programme* is more commonly used.” Three American uses in four agreed. He kept it to the end.^2,6,18

lecturers and engineers and savans, (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 24) — **savans** · “lecturers and engineers and savans,” page 24; and “savan,” the preface, page x. The plural was usual then: Worcester’s of 1860 gives “SAVANT … *pl.* SAVANS,” and four American uses in five spelled the plural so. The singular *savan* is his own, and looks to have been made from the plural; the dictionaries give *savant*. He kept *savans* to the end; the passage with *savan* was not kept.^2,6,18

savan is wise it is simply the same . . if the (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page x) — **savans** · “lecturers and engineers and savans,” page 24; and “savan,” the preface, page x. The plural was usual then: Worcester’s of 1860 gives “SAVANT … *pl.* SAVANS,” and four American uses in five spelled the plural so. The singular *savan* is his own, and looks to have been made from the plural; the dictionaries give *savant*. He kept *savans* to the end; the passage with *savan* was not kept.^2,6,18

stones, and elder and mullen and (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 16) — **mullen** · “elder and mullen and pokeweed,” page 16. It looks wrong and isn’t. *Mullen* is Noah Webster’s own spelling of the plant, in his dictionary of 1828: “MUL′LEN, n. … A plant of the genus Verbascum.” Worcester preferred *mullein*, and in American books of the 1850s about four uses in ten were *mullen*. Whitman kept it through 1871 and changed it in 1881.^2,3,6,18

Webster, 1828, vol. 2: MULLEN, n. [Old Fr. molene; probably so named from the root of L. mollis, soft. So in German, wollkraut, wool-plant.] A plant of the genus Verbascum. — **mullen** · “elder and mullen and pokeweed,” page 16. It looks wrong and isn’t. *Mullen* is Noah Webster’s own spelling of the plant, in his dictionary of 1828: “MUL′LEN, n. … A plant of the genus Verbascum.” Worcester preferred *mullein*, and in American books of the 1850s about four uses in ten were *mullen*. Whitman kept it through 1871 and changed it in 1881.^2,3,6,18

And that a kelson of the creation (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 16) — **kelson** · “And that a kelson of the creation is love,” page 16. On the same page as *mullen*, and the same story: Webster’s of 1828 has “KEL′SON. [See Keelson.]” Worcester’s of 1860 lists *keelson* first and *kelson* as the other, and about four American uses in ten were *kelson*. He kept it to the end.^2,3,6,18

Webster, 1828, vol. 2: KELSON. [See Keelson.] — **kelson** · “And that a kelson of the creation is love,” page 16. On the same page as *mullen*, and the same story: Webster’s of 1828 has “KEL′SON. [See Keelson.]” Worcester’s of 1860 lists *keelson* first and *kelson* as the other, and about four American uses in ten were *kelson*. He kept it to the end.^2,3,6,18

cleansetting trowsers and waistbands, (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 78) — **trowsers** · “cleansetting trowsers and waistbands,” page 78. Webster used the spelling in his own definitions (“A kind of trowsers worn by children,” under *trouse*); Worcester’s of 1860 lists *trousers* as well authorized and *trowsers* as the other. About six American uses in ten were *trowsers*. He kept it to the end, but for one line in 1860.^2,3,6,18

Worcester, 1860, page xxxiii: A row of a list in two columns: Trousers, beside Trowsers. — **trowsers** · “cleansetting trowsers and waistbands,” page 78. Webster used the spelling in his own definitions (“A kind of trowsers worn by children,” under *trouse*); Worcester’s of 1860 lists *trousers* as well authorized and *trowsers* as the other. About six American uses in ten were *trowsers*. He kept it to the end, but for one line in 1860.^2,3,6,18

6. Rare then, set right later

Spellings a few other American books of the 1850s used, which no dictionary gave. Whether each was his habit or a slip of his pen or of the shop’s, we can’t tell. Later editions set them right.

and to make indispensible repairs, (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 40) — **indispensible** · “and to make indispensible repairs,” page 40, and once in the preface, page viii. The dictionaries give IN-DIS-PEN′SA-BLE, and fewer than one American use in fifty had the i. From 1856, *indispensable*.^2,6,18

Worcester, 1860, page 744: INDISPENSABLE, a. [It. indispensabile; Sp. & Fr. indispensable.] 1. That cannot be dispensed with; not to be omitted, remitted, or spared; absolutely necessary; essential; requisite; needful. — **indispensible** · “and to make indispensible repairs,” page 40, and once in the preface, page viii. The dictionaries give IN-DIS-PEN′SA-BLE, and fewer than one American use in fifty had the i. From 1856, *indispensable*.^2,6,18

know my omniverous words, and (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 47) — **omniverous** · “I know my omniverous words,” page 47. Webster’s of 1828 has OMNIV′OROUS, “All-devouring,” and about one American use in fourteen had the e. From 1856, *omnivorous*.^2,3,18

Webster, 1828, vol. 2: OMNIVOROUS, a. [L. omnivorus; omnis, all, and voro, to eat.] All-devouring; eating every thing indiscrim- — **omniverous** · “I know my omniverous words,” page 47. Webster’s of 1828 has OMNIV′OROUS, “All-devouring,” and about one American use in fourteen had the e. From 1856, *omnivorous*.^2,3,18

In vain the mastadon retreats beneath (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 34) — **mastadon** · “In vain the mastadon retreats beneath its own powdered bones,” page 34. Webster’s of 1828 has MAS′TODON, from the Greek for “a tooth,” and fewer than one American use in fifty had the a. The editions went back and forth: *mastadon* in 1856, *mastodon* in 1860, *mastadon* again in 1867, and *mastodon* from 1871.^2,3,18

Webster, 1828, vol. 2: MASTODON, n. [Gr. μαςος, mamilla, and οδους, a tooth.] A genus of mammiferous animals resem- — **mastadon** · “In vain the mastadon retreats beneath its own powdered bones,” page 34. Webster’s of 1828 has MAS′TODON, from the Greek for “a tooth,” and fewer than one American use in fifty had the a. The editions went back and forth: *mastadon* in 1856, *mastodon* in 1860, *mastadon* again in 1867, and *mastodon* from 1871.^2,3,18

I hear the violincello or man’s heart’s (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 32) — **violincello** · “I hear the violincello or man’s heart’s complaint,” page 32. About one American use in five had the i in the 1840s, one in eighteen in the 1850s. Webster’s of 1828: “VIOLONCEL′LO, n. [It.] A stringed instrument of music.” The edition of 1856 kept it; from 1860, *violoncello*.^2,3,18

Webster, 1828, vol. 2: VIOLONCELLO, n. [It.] A stringed instrument of music; a base viol of four strings, or a little base violin with long — **violincello** · “I hear the violincello or man’s heart’s complaint,” page 32. About one American use in five had the i in the 1840s, one in eighteen in the 1850s. Webster’s of 1828: “VIOLONCEL′LO, n. [It.] A stringed instrument of music.” The edition of 1856 kept it; from 1860, *violoncello*.^2,3,18

underhanded dodgings, or infinitessimals of (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page x) — **infinitessimals** · “underhanded dodgings, or infinitessimals of parlors,” the preface, page x. Webster’s of 1828 has INFINITES′IMAL, and about one American use in twenty-five doubled the s. The passage was not kept in 1856.^2,3,18

Webster, 1828, vol. 1: INFINITESIMAL, a. Indefinitely small. Johnson. Encyc. INFINITESIMAL, n. An indefinitely small quantity. Encyc. — **infinitessimals** · “underhanded dodgings, or infinitessimals of parlors,” the preface, page x. Webster’s of 1828 has INFINITES′IMAL, and about one American use in twenty-five doubled the s. The passage was not kept in 1856.^2,3,18

7. Slips

Mistakes the books themselves show to be mistakes.

Echos, ripples, and buzzed whispers (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 13) — **Echos** · “Echos, ripples, and buzzed whispers,” page 13. A slip, as far as we can tell. The same book prints *echoes* on pages 18 and 86, and the next edition, of 1856, reads “Echoes, ripples, buzzed whispers.” Whether Whitman set this line or one of the Rome brothers did, we don’t know.^1,2

receive and return so many echoes, (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 18) — **Echos** · “Echos, ripples, and buzzed whispers,” page 13. A slip, as far as we can tell. The same book prints *echoes* on pages 18 and 86, and the next edition, of 1856, reads “Echoes, ripples, buzzed whispers.” Whether Whitman set this line or one of the Rome brothers did, we don’t know.^1,2

In walls of abode, in canvass tents, (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 23) — **abode** · “In walls of abode, in canvass tents,” page 23. A slip for *adobe*: the b and the d have changed places, an easy slip for a compositor, since a piece of type is its letter’s mirror image. It was not corrected in 1855; the edition of 1856 reads “In walls of adobe.”^2,16

. . aud see and hear you, and (Leaves of Grass, 1855, page 58) — **aud** · “. . . . aud see and hear you,” page 58. Most likely an n set upside down, a turned letter in the printers’ word, which prints as a u. The Archive’s transcription of another copy, at the University of Iowa, has the same *aud*. In 1856 the line was rewritten and the word went: “—I see and hear you.”^1,2

8. What the editions did

The edition of 1856 set right the plain errors (indispensible, omniverous, developement, Echos, abode) and kept the older and English forms (behaviour but once, pedlar, deposite, mullen, centre).²

The edition of 1860, printed in Boston for Thayer and Eldridge, moved toward Webster: behavior, pedler, deposit, mastodon and violoncello, and polished and stuccoed without the apostrophe.²

Words printed with ’d for -ed, in each edition. Kinds of word, each counted once (hem’d and polish’d are two), by our count of the Walt Whitman Archive’s transcriptions. A word broken at a line’s end is counted whole; pronouns such as I’d are left out.²

From 1867 the apostrophe was his rule. The 1867 edition prints 581 kinds of word with ’d, against 717 spelled -ed, a count that also takes in words like red and hundred; the 1860 edition, of 456 pages, had 20. Some of 1860’s changes went back: mastadon and polish’d returned. In 1881 mullen became mullein, extatic became ecstatic, and kosmic joined kosmos.²

The changes of 1860 look like a Boston printer’s house style, and the ’d of 1867 like Whitman’s own choice. That is an inference from the books; no record of either printing that we have read says so. In 1888 he told Traubel of the ’d: “My ‘peculiarities,’ as your printers call them, hardly go further than this. I make a few rude departures—not many: on the whole I am conservative, travel the usual road.” Of his spellings that year: “They are not wrong—they are only my whims, oddities: as such I must let them pass.”¹⁵

9. What we don’t know

Some questions the sources don’t answer. Each is set down here with what we know, what we don’t, and what would settle it.

Who chose each spelling in Rome’s shop. The manuals, his paying for the book and his being in the shop all point to his copy; no record of the shop says so.^13,16 The manuscript he gave the printers would settle it, and we know of none that survives.
Why loafe has an e. Perhaps to set the verb apart from the bread. That is a guess, and nothing he wrote says.
Where the k of kosmos came from. Alexander von Humboldt’s book Kosmos is one lead, which we have not followed; his notes say only “Kosmos words.”¹¹
Whether sluff is a spelling of slough or a word for a sound. The line could be read either way.
How common each form was in newspapers. The shares here are from books, read by machine; the Library of Congress’s newspaper search turned our automated reading away.¹⁸
Whether wellbeloved and goodbye, each one word in the 1855 book, were usual so. Google’s counts may join words broken at the end of a line, so we left them out of the cards.
Whether the ’d of 1867 was his rule or a printer’s. The proofs or his letters to the printers about them would settle it.
Whether anyone has studied Whitman’s spelling as such. We found no study. James Perrin Warren’s Walt Whitman’s Language Experiment (1990), which we have not read, is the place to look first.

Sources

W. Whitman, Leaves of Grass (Brooklyn, 1855), Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Feinberg Whitman Collection copy 3: the cards’ lines are cut from its photographs. “The Library of Congress is not aware of any U.S. copyright or any other restrictions in the documents in this collection.” https://www.loc.gov/item/03023679/
The Walt Whitman Archive, edited by Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, and Kenneth M. Price: its transcriptions of Leaves of Grass, 1855 (the University of Iowa’s copy), 1856, 1860, 1867, 1871, 1881 and 1891–92 (TEI: ppp.00271, ppp.00237, ppp.01500, ppp.00473, ppp.00270, ppp.01663, ppp.00707), CC BY 4.0, read 2026-11-01. https://github.com/whitmanarchive/whitman-leaves_of_grass
N. Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (New York, 1828), 2 vols., the Internet Archive’s scans: extasy, infinitesimal, indispensable (vol. 1); kelson, leak, mastodon, monarchal, mullen, omnivorous, violoncello, trouse (vol. 2). https://archive.org/details/americandictiona01websrich · https://archive.org/details/americandictiona02websrich
N. Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language, revised by C. A. Goodrich (Springfield: G. and C. Merriam, the text of 1847; this copy lacks its title page): the preface, on “fether”; the rules of spelling, p. lxxxi; free-trade among its added words. https://archive.org/details/websteramericand00webs
N. Webster, A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language (Hartford and New Haven, 1806). https://archive.org/details/compendiousdictionaryoftheenglishlanguage1806
J. E. Worcester, A Dictionary of the English Language (Boston, 1860): the orthography, pp. xxv–xxviii; the “Vocabulary of Words of Doubtful or Various Orthography,” pp. xxx–xxxiii; the entries, pp. 744, 848, 849, 1137, 1277, 1356 and 1683. https://archive.org/details/cu31924027443393
J. E. Worcester, A Universal and Critical Dictionary of the English Language (Boston, 1846), p. xxvii. https://archive.org/details/cu31924027443336
The Grolier Club, “Lexical Warfare,” from the exhibition of the collection of Bryan A. Garner. https://grolierclub.omeka.net/exhibits/show/lexicography/warfare
H. L. Mencken, The American Language (New York, 1919), pp. 248–55. https://archive.org/details/americanlanguage00mencuoft
Wisconsin, Laws of 1855, chapter 45. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/1855/related/acts/45.pdf
W. Whitman, An American Primer, ed. H. Traubel (Boston, 1904): the foreword, p. vii; pp. 6, 11–14. https://archive.org/details/americanprimer00whitrich
J. P. Warren, “Dating Whitman’s Language Studies,” Walt Whitman Quarterly Review 1.2 (1983), 1–7. https://pubs.lib.uiowa.edu/wwqr/article/id/26382/
T. F. Adams, Typographia, 4th ed. (Philadelphia, 1854), pp. 63, 189–91. https://archive.org/details/typographiaorpri00adam
T. MacKellar, The American Printer, 6th ed. (Philadelphia, 1871), pp. 181, 183, 280–81. https://archive.org/details/americanprinter00mackgoog
H. Traubel, With Walt Whitman in Camden: vol. 1, p. 248 (2 June 1888); vol. 2, pp. 244 (2 September 1888) and 471. https://archive.org/details/withwaltwhitmani01trauuoft · https://archive.org/details/withwaltwhitmani00trau2
N. Gray, “Introduction to the 1855 Leaves of Grass Variorum,” §§ III–IV and note 116, at the Walt Whitman Archive, as kept by the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine. https://web.archive.org/web/20200813170641/https://whitmanarchive.org/published/LG/1855/variorum/intro.html
How Whitman made his books (stanza.pictures, 2026), and its sources. https://stanza.pictures/reading-room/whitman-as-printer
Google Books Ngram Viewer, American English (2019), the years 1840–59, read 2026-11-01: a spelling’s share is its count against the count of all its spellings. https://books.google.com/ngrams

stanza · The reading room · November 2026