1 janv. 1604 - First English "dictionary" (1604 CE)

Description:

First published in London in 1604 CE, Robert Cawdrey's "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.", often simplified to just "A Table Alphabeticall" can be considered the first English Dictionary.

However, the dictionary was rather small (120 pages, 2,543 words defined) and definitions were usually brief/one word. Moreover, the words chosen by Cawdrey were rather obscure and arbitrary, leading to this dictionary being more like a thesaurus of synonyms.

Despite this, the dictionary was popular enough to see revised versions of the book published in later years.

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