Here's a breakdown:
* Early dictionaries: Early attempts at dictionaries existed as far back as the 16th century, with figures like Robert Cawdrey and John Bullokar contributing.
* Samuel Johnson's influence: Samuel Johnson's *A Dictionary of the English Language* (1755) is considered a pivotal work, as it aimed to standardize English and establish a definitive source for its usage.
* The rise of lexicographers: Following Johnson's effort, many other lexicographers contributed to the evolution of dictionaries, refining definitions, expanding word lists, and incorporating new words.
* Collaborative effort: The modern dictionaries we use today are the result of ongoing collaboration between institutions like Oxford University Press, Merriam-Webster, and others. They employ teams of lexicographers, editors, and researchers to continually update and refine their dictionaries.
Therefore, it's more accurate to say that the English language evolved and stabilized *through* the development of dictionaries, rather than by the act of one person "creating" a dictionary. Dictionaries reflect the evolving nature of language, and they play a crucial role in documenting and codifying its usage.