Final answer:
Samuel Johnson expected the compilation of his dictionary to take about three years, but it ultimately took him nearly nine years to complete it.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question "How long did Johnson EXPECT to take with the dictionary?" refers to Samuel Johnson, the English writer famous for his dictionary of the English Language, first published in 1755. Unfortunately, the provided information does not contain the answer to how long Johnson expected the dictionary compilation to take. However, historical accounts suggest that when Johnson was contracted to compile his dictionary, he anticipated that the work would take about three years. In reality, the ambitious task took nearly nine years to complete.