Johnson, who defines as 'metrical composition', defines as 'An inventor; an author of fiction; a writer of poems; one who writes in measure'. We can gauge how far we have traveled by comparing this with the Shorter Oxford Dictionary which, after a definition very like Johnson's, feels obligated to add 'A writer in verse (or sometimes in elevated prose) distinguished by imaginative power, insight, sensibility, and faculty of expression'.

Summary

This quote highlights the evolution in the understanding of the term "metrical composition" or poet/writer. It contrasts the definition provided by Johnson, which simply implies a person who writes in measure, with the definition found in the Shorter Oxford Dictionary. The latter emphasizes the artistic qualities that distinguish poets, such as their imaginative power, insight, sensibility, and expressive abilities. This comparison shows that over time, the perception of a poet/writer has shifted from a mere inventor or author of fiction to someone with heightened artistic and expressive talents.

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