Isaac Kaufmann Funk (1839-1912) was an American editor,
lexicographer, publisher, and spelling reformer. In 1890 he began work on
The Standard Dictionary of the English Language (1893). He worked with a team of more than 740 people. His aim was to provide essential information thoroughly and simply at the same time. In order to achieve this he placed current meanings first, archaic meanings second, and etymologies last.
See also: Funk and Wagnalls