From 1909 to 1912, Kilmer was employed by Funk and Wagnalls, which was preparing an edition of "The Standard Dictionary" that would be published in 1912. According to Hillis, Kilmer's job "was to define ordinary words assigned to him at five cents for each word defined. This was a job at which one would ordinarily earn ten to twelve dollars a week, but Kilmer attacked the task with such vigor and speed that it was soon thought wisest to put him on a regular salary."