Question

Read the excerpt from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.

The two languages from which our primitives have been derived are the Roman and Teutonick: under the Roman I comprehend the French and provincial tongues; and under the Teutonick range the Saxon, German, and all their kindred dialects.

The underlined word emerges as a key term in Johnson’s preface because it

clarifies words’ pronunciations.
questions words’ literary importance.
explains words’ origins and variations.
offers criticism of words’ common usages.

Answer 1

explains words’ origins and variations.

Reason: Johnson uses "primitives" to mean root or original words and discusses their derivation from Roman and Teutonic sources, so the term highlights etymology and variation rather than pronunciation, literary value, or criticism.