Final answer:
Samuel Johnson compiled the 'Dictionary of the English Language' over seven years, published in 1755, which became a significant reference in the English language and literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
He is best known for his monumental work, the Dictionary of the English Language, which was published in 1755 after seven years of dedication. Unlike previous attempts at compiling a dictionary, Johnson's work was comprehensive and included detailed definitions, examples of usage, and etymological information, paving the way for modern lexicography.
Samuel Johnson's dictionary was not the first of its kind, but it was the most influential in its time, and it remained the English-language standard for over a century until the completion of the Oxford English Dictionary. It was noteworthy for including literary quotations illustrating the use of words, which helped to solidify the status of the English literature canon.
This significant contribution to English literature and the study of the English language was made possible through Johnson's extensive reading as well as the help of six assistants who worked in the garret of his London home. The dictionary contained 42,773 entries, and while Johnson hoped it would stabilize the language, English continued to evolve, and his work became a historical document rather than an unchanging authority.