The title of the first English dictionary, published in London in 1604 by autodidact Robert Cawdrey, is a doozy - "A Table Alphabeticall, conteyning and teaching the true writing, and vnderſtanding of hard uſuall Engliſh words, borrowed from the Hebrew, Greeke, Latine, or French, &c. With the interpretation thereof by plaine Engliſh words, gathered for the benefit and helpe of ladies, gentlewomen, or any other vnskilfull persons. Whereby they may the more eaſily and better vnderſtand many hard Engliſh words, vvhich they ſhall heare or read in Scriptures, Sermons, or elſe vvhere, and alſo be made able to vſe the same aptly themſelues." Cawdrey worried the wealthy were adopting foreign words and phrases - "far journied gentlemen learnt new words while in foreign lands, and then pouder their talke with over-sea language”. His Table meant to correct that and never mind that his English was already rich with foreign terms. I own some ancient dictionaries, but my all-time favorite is the OED. Here’s why.
© 2024 John Oliver
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