Webster was known as a
prude,
pedant, and
religious fanatic. He worried a great deal about
delicacy and when compiling his dictionary replaced many words with amusing
euphemisms of his own design. For example, he replaced "
testicles" with "
peculiar members". Under his entry for love, the definition is
solely religious.
The legends that surround the late great Mr. Webster are legion, but this is my favorite. I think it accurately expresses his character and makes the old guy sort of endearing.
Like many hypocritical men of his time, Noah managed at least one extramarital fling. Yes, the pious Noah was boinking the chambermaid!
One morning, his model wife caught him kissing the maid. "Why Noah, I'm surprised!" she is supposed to have exclaimed. To which our unflappable Noah calmly replied,
"Madame, you are astonished; I am surprised."