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Early English Dictionaries
Before Samuel Johnson's two-volume ''A Dictionary of the English Language'', published in 1755 and considered the most authoritative and influential work of early English lexicography, there were other early English dictionaries: more than a dozen had been published during the preceding 150 years. This article lists the most significant ones. Early dictionaries Wordbook by Sir Thomas Elyot (1538) This was a Latin-English dictionary, not a monolingual dictionary, published in 1538 and dedicated to Henry VIII. 1542 saw an enlarged second edition. The Elementarie (1582) Composed by Richard Mulcaster, headmaster of Merchant Taylors' School in London, The Elementarie is now viewed as an important forerunner of the first actual dictionary in English, although it was not an actual dictionary. At a time when English spelling was, in Mulcaster's words, "without any certain direction," The Elementarie listed 8,000 words: some of them common ("burn" and "football," for instance), ot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 – 13 December 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. The ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' calls him "arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history". Born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, he attended Pembroke College, Oxford until lack of funds forced him to leave. After working as a teacher, he moved to London and began writing for ''The Gentleman's Magazine''. Early works include ''Life of Mr Richard Savage'', the poems ''London'' and ''The Vanity of Human Wishes'' and the play ''Irene''. After nine years' effort, Johnson's '' A Dictionary of the English Language'' appeared in 1755, and was acclaimed as "one of the greatest single achievements of scholarship". Later work included essays, an annotated ''The Plays of William Shakespeare'', and the apologue ''The History of R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
A Dictionary Of The English Language
''A Dictionary of the English Language'', sometimes published as ''Johnson's Dictionary'', was published on 15 April 1755 and written by Samuel Johnson. It is among the most influential dictionaries in the history of the English language. There was dissatisfaction with the dictionaries of the period, so in June 1746 a group of London booksellers contracted Johnson to write a dictionary for the sum of 1,500 guineas (£1,575), equivalent to about £ in . Johnson took seven years to complete the work, although he had claimed he could finish it in three. He did so single-handedly, with only clerical assistance to copy the illustrative quotations that he had marked in books. Johnson produced several revised editions during his life. Until the completion of the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' 173 years later, Johnson's was viewed as the pre-eminent English dictionary. According to Walter Jackson Bate, the Dictionary "easily ranks as one of the greatest single achievements of s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1755 In Literature
This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1755. —Self-deprecating definition by Samuel Johnson from ''A Dictionary of the English Language'' Events *April 15 – Samuel Johnson's ''A Dictionary of the English Language'' is published by the group of London booksellers who commissioned it in June 1746, two months after Johnson was awarded the degree of Master of Arts (A.M.) by the University of Oxford, his ''alma mater''. *''unknown dates'' **Milton's ''Paradise Lost'' is translated into French prose by Louis Racine. **The first New Testament in the Ume Sami language is published. New Books Fiction * Charlotte Charke – ''The History of Mr. Henry Dumont and Miss Charlotte Evelyn'' *Eliza Haywood as "Exploralibus" – ''The Invisible Spy'' *Samuel Richardson – ''A Collection of ... Sentiments'' * John Shebbeare – ''Letters on the English Nation'' *Tobias Smollett – ''The History and Adventures of the Renowned Don Quixote'' Poetry *J ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lexicography
Lexicography is the study of lexicons, and is divided into two separate academic disciplines. It is the art of compiling dictionaries. * Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries. * Theoretical lexicography is the scholarly study of semantic, orthographic, syntagmatic and paradigmatic features of lexemes of the lexicon (vocabulary) of a language, developing theories of dictionary components and structures linking the data in dictionaries, the needs for information by users in specific types of situations, and how users may best access the data incorporated in printed and electronic dictionaries. This is sometimes referred to as 'metalexicography'. There is some disagreement on the definition of lexicology, as distinct from lexicography. Some use "lexicology" as a synonym for theoretical lexicography; others use it to mean a branch of linguistics pertaining to the inventory of words in a particular language. A person devoted ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thomas Elyot
Sir Thomas Elyot (c. 149626 March 1546) was an English diplomat and scholar. He is best known as one of the first proponents of the use of the English language for literary purposes. Early life Thomas was the child of Sir Richard Elyot's first marriage with Alice De la Mare, but neither the date nor place of his birth is accurately known. Alice's first husband Thomas Daubridgecourt had died 10 Oct 1495 so this next marriage has to follow that date. Anthony Wood claimed him as an alumnus of St Mary Hall, Oxford, while C. H. Cooper in the ''Athenae Cantabrigienses'' put in a claim for Jesus College, Cambridge. Elyot himself says in the preface to his ''Dictionary'' that he was educated under the paternal roof, and was from the age of twelve his own tutor. He supplies, in the introduction to his ''Castell of Helth'', a list of the authors he had read in philosophy and medicine, adding that a "worshipful physician" (Thomas Linacre) read to him from Galen and some other authors. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richard Mulcaster
Richard Mulcaster (ca. 1531, Carlisle, Cumberland – 15 April 1611, Essex) is known best for his headmasterships of Merchant Taylors' School and St Paul's School, both then in London, and for his pedagogic writings. He is often regarded as the founder of English language lexicography. He was also an Anglican priest. Early life Mulcaster was possibly born in 1530 or 1531 in Brackenhill Castle. He was the son of William Mulcaster. Education In 1561 he became the first headmaster of Merchant Taylors' School in London, where he wrote his two treatises on education, ''Positions'' (1581) and ''Elementarie'' (1582). Merchant Taylors' School was at that time the largest school in the country, and Mulcaster worked to establish a rigorous curriculum which was to set the standard for education in Latin, Greek and Hebrew. He was the mentor of Lancelot Andrewes, later Dean of Westminster, who kept the subject's portrait above his study door. Church employments He was vicar of Cran ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Small things grow in harmony , established = , closed = , coordinates = , pushpin_map = , type = Independent day school , religion = Church of England , president = , head_label = Head Master , head = Simon Everson , head_name2 = Second Master , head2 = Michael Husbands , r_head_label = Senior Master , r_head = Caron Evans-Evans , chair_label = Chairman of Governors , chair = Duncan Eggar , founder = Thomas White , specialist = , address = , city = Three Rivers , county = Hertfordshire , country = England , postcode = HA6 2HT , local_authority = Three Rivers District Council , urn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spelling Reform
A spelling reform is a deliberate, often authoritatively sanctioned or mandated change to spelling rules. Proposals for such reform are fairly common, and over the years, many languages have undergone such reforms. Recent high-profile examples are the German orthography reform of 1996 and the on-off Portuguese spelling reform of 1990, which is still being ratified. There are various goals which may drive such reforms: facilitating literacy and international communication, making etymology clearer, or for aesthetic or political reasons. Opposition is often based upon concern that old literature will become inaccessible, the presumed suppression of regional accents, the need to learn the new spellings, making etymology less clear, or simple conservatism based on concern over unforeseen effects. Reforms which mainly eliminate needless difficulties ought to take account of such arguments. Reform efforts are further hampered by habit and, for many languages, a lack of a central aut ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lingua Franca
A lingua franca (; ; for plurals see ), also known as a bridge language, common language, trade language, auxiliary language, vehicular language, or link language, is a language systematically used to make communication possible between groups of people who do not share a native language or dialect, particularly when it is a third language that is distinct from both of the speakers' native languages. Lingua francas have developed around the world throughout human history, sometimes for commercial reasons (so-called "trade languages" facilitated trade), but also for cultural, religious, diplomatic and administrative convenience, and as a means of exchanging information between scientists and other scholars of different nationalities. The term is taken from the medieval Mediterranean Lingua Franca, a Romance-based pidgin language used especially by traders in the Mediterranean Basin from the 11th to the 19th centuries. A world language – a language spoken internationally and by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robert Cawdrey
Robert Cawdrey (ca. 1538 – after 1604) was an English clergyman who produced one of the first dictionaries of the English language, the ''Table Alphabeticall'', in 1604. Career Robert Cawdrey did not attend university, but became a school teacher in Oakham, Rutland, in 1563. In 1565, Cawdrey was ordained deacon and priest in 1570, and on 22 October 1571, he was made rector of South Luffenham in Rutland. However, Cawdrey was sympathetic to Puritan teachings, and got in trouble with the Church authorities. In 1576 he was chastised for not reading the approved texts in his sermons, and in 1578 he performed a marriage even though he was not authorized to do so, and was briefly suspended. His suspension lasted only a few months but, in 1586, he was again in trouble for violating the rules and was called before his bishop, Richard Howland. He had powerful friends, among them his patron Lord Burghley, who tried to defend him, but he was deprived of his rectory in 1588 and had to retur ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thomas Blount (lexicographer)
Thomas Blount (1618–1679) was an English antiquarian and lexicographer. Background He was the son of Myles Blount of Orleton in Herefordshire and was born at Bordesley, Tardebigge, Worcestershire. He was called to the bar at the Inner Temple, but, being a zealous Roman Catholic, his religion interfered considerably with the practice of that profession at a time when Catholics were excluded from almost all areas of public life in England. Retiring to his estate at Orleton, he devoted himself to the study of the law as an amateur, and also read widely in other branches of knowledge. Thomas Blount married Anne Church of Maldon, Essex (1617–1697) in 1661 and they had one daughter, Elizabeth (1662–1724). He died on 26 December 1679, at Orleton, Herefordshire, at the age of sixty-one. ''Glossographia'' His principal works include ''Glossographia; or, a dictionary interpreting the hard words of whatsoever language, now used in our refined English tongue'' (1656), w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The New World Of English Words
''The New World of English Words, or, a General Dictionary'' is a dictionary compiled by Edward Phillips and first published in London in 1658. It was the first folio English dictionary. Contents As well as containing common words, the dictionary featured many unusual words, foreign terms, proper nouns and other specialist terms. In total, the original edition featured 11,000 entries, increasing to 17,000 by the fifth edition in 1696. It was later revised and enlarged by John Kersey in 1706, eventually containing 38,000 entries. Kersey had already compiled his own dictionary, ''A New English Dictionary'', in 1702, and used this revised edition of ''The New World of English Words'' as the basis for his more concise ''Dictionarium Anglo-Britannicum'' in 1708. Plagiarism At least half of the entries were copied directly, without permission, from Thomas Blount's ''Glossographia'', which had been published a couple of years before. Blount responded by publishing ''A world of errors ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
