Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, is an American company that publishes reference books, especially known for its dictionaries. 

In 1831, George and Charles Merriam founded the company as G & C Merriam Co. in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1843, after Noah Webster died, the company bought the rights to "An American Dictionary of the English Language" from Webster's estate. All Merriam-Webster dictionaries trace their lineage to this source. 

In 1964, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. acquired Merriam-Webster, Inc. as a subsidiary. The company adopted its current name in 1982. 

In 1806, Webster published his first dictionary, . In 1807 Webster started two decades of intensive work to expand his publication into a fully comprehensive dictionary, "An American Dictionary of the English Language". To help him trace the etymology of words, Webster learned 26 languages. Webster hoped to standardize American speech, since Americans in different parts of the country used somewhat different vocabularies and spelled, pronounced, and used words differently. 

Webster completed his dictionary during his year abroad in 1825 in Paris, and at the University of Cambridge. His 1820s book contained 70,000 words, of which about 12,000 had never appeared in a dictionary before. As a spelling reformer, Webster believed that English spelling rules were unnecessarily complex, so his dictionary introduced American English spellings, replacing "colour" with "color", "waggon" with "wagon", and "centre" with "center". He also added American words, including "skunk" and "squash", that did not appear in British dictionaries. At the age of 70 in 1828, Webster published his dictionary; it sold poorly, with only 2,500 copies putting him in debt. However, in 1840, he published the second edition in two volumes with much greater success.
Who bought Merriam Webster?
Who bought them in 1964?
What is Merriam Webster most known for?
What type of book is that?
What was Webster's first name?
What did he own the rights to?
When did he pass away?
Who purchased the rights to his dictionary after that?
When did Webster first publish a dictionary?
What about before that?
How long did it take him to expand that into something bigger?
Did he learn a lot of languages?
How many?
For what purpose?
What was his goal in creating this book?
Did people across the country say things differently?
Where did he finally finish his work?
Where at?
Where else?
How many words had never been in a dictionary before?
G & C Merriam Co
G & C Merriam Co. in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1843, after Noah Webster died, the company bought the rights to "An American Dictionary of the English
Encyclopædia Britannica
In 1964, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. acquired Merriam-Webster, Inc. as a subsidiary
Dictionaries.
eference books, especially known for its dictionaries. 
A reference book.
 company that publishes reference books, especially known for its dictionaries. 

Noah.
 In 1843, after Noah Webster died
An American Dictionary of the English Language
after Noah Webster died, the company bought the rights to "An American Dictionary of the English Language" from Webster's estate
1843
In 1843, after Noah Webster died, the
George and Charles Merriam.
n 1831, George and Charles Merriam founded the company as G & C Merriam Co. in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1843, after Noah Webster died, the company bought the rights to "An American Dictionary of the English Language" from Webster's estate. All Merriam-Webster dictionaries trace their lineage to this source. 
1828
At the age of 70 in 1828, Webster published his dictionary; 
1806
In 1806, Webster published his first dictionary, 
2 decades.
 In 1807 Webster started two decades of intensive work to expand his publication into a fully comprehensive dictionary, "An American Dictionary of the English Language"
Yes
Webster learned 26 languages
26
Webster learned 26 languages
Help him trace the etymology of words.
o help him trace the etymology of words, Webster learned 26 languages
Standardize American speech
 help him trace the etymology of words, Webster learned 26 languages. Webster hoped to standardize American speech, since Americans in different parts of the
Yes
country used somewhat different vocabularies and spelled, pronounced, and used words differently. 
1825
ebster completed his dictionary during his year abroad in 1825
Paris
 in Paris
University of Cambridge
at the University of Cambridge
12,000
h about 12,000 had never appeared in a dictionary before