a. and sb. [f. prec. + -(I)AL.]
A. adj. Of or pertaining to an editor; proper to, or characteristic of, an editor.
1744. Akenside, Lett., in Poems (1845). 30. He has intirely dedicated himself to … editorial criticism.
1794. Parr, in Brit. Critic, Feb., 125, note (T.). Lambin … and Heyne also … seem to have considered it as part of their editorial duty, [etc.].
1850. Carlyle, Latter-d. Pamph., iv. (1872), 117. In spite of editorial prophecy.
1837. Dickens, Pickw. (1847), 234/2. Bless our editorial heart.
B. sb. A newspaper article written by, or under the responsibility of, the editor: a ‘leader.’
1864. Spectator, 7 May, 539/2. Mr. Bennett … thinks that ‘an editorial is the highest style of composition known.’
1866. Mrs. Stowe, Little Foxes, 14. To set up the editorial of a morning paper.
1883. in Harper’s Mag., March, 601/1. The Daily Proteus sent Jack twenty dollars last week for two editorials.
1887. Pall Mall Gaz., 15 Oct., 12/1. Finely worded editorials.
Hence Editorially adv., in an editorial manner or capacity; as an editor does. † Editorialship = EDITORSHIP.
1818. Blackw. Mag., III. 142/1. You are editorially exonerated.
1826. J. Gilchrist, Lecture, 34. During his Editorialship he must have been a kind of Consul or Dictator in the Republic of Letters.
1883. Harper’s Mag., Oct., 792/1. She [Harriet Martineau] wrote editorially for a London paper.
1885. Manch. Exam., 14 April, 8/6. The anticipations which … you ventured editorially to give expression to.
