Final answer:
Both Samuel Johnson and Noah Webster acknowledged the descriptive role of dictionaries in documenting the usage and history of words, even though their individual approaches differed, with Johnson being more openly descriptive and Webster being somewhat prescriptive yet also descriptive.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering whether Samuel Johnson or Noah Webster believed that dictionaries could be descriptive, it is important to understand the historical context of their work. Samuel Johnson's dictionary, published in 1755, was descriptive in that it included not just the definitions but also the history and usage of words, often incorporating Johnson's own opinions and prejudices. Noah Webster's dictionary, on the other hand, aimed to standardize American English and was prescriptive. However, Webster's comprehensive dictionary, first published in 1828, also included aspects of word usage and history, making it somewhat descriptive as well. Therefore, it can be inferred that both Johnson and Webster acknowledged the descriptive role of dictionaries.
Dictionaries have evolved over time, continuously adapting to changes in language to provide clear definitions, history, and correct usage to assist in reliable communication. The approach of Johnson and Webster underlines the descriptivist versus prescriptivist debate in lexicography, illuminating the dynamic nature of language and its documentation.