A Deep Dive into the History of English Language Dictionaries

By Ryan

Mar 20, 2025

In Language History

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The history of English language dictionaries is a long and fascinating journey, stretching back centuries and reflecting the ever-evolving nature of language itself. From humble beginnings as simple word lists to the comprehensive resources we rely on today, English dictionaries have played a crucial role in standardizing, preserving, and expanding our understanding of the English language. This article explores the key milestones and influential figures that have shaped the world of lexicography, the art and science of dictionary making.

Early Lexicography: Seeds of the English Dictionary

Before the advent of formal dictionaries, glossaries served as the primary means of explaining difficult or foreign words. These early word lists often appeared as annotations within manuscripts or were compiled separately to aid scholars and readers in understanding complex texts. The need for such resources became increasingly apparent as English absorbed words from various languages, including Latin, Greek, and French. These early attempts at defining words laid the groundwork for the more structured and comprehensive dictionaries that would follow. The evolution of these early word collections demonstrates a growing awareness of the importance of documenting and understanding the vocabulary of the English language.

The Dawn of English Dictionaries: Robert Cawdrey's Table Alphabeticall

The year 1604 marks a significant milestone in the history of English dictionaries with the publication of Robert Cawdrey's A Table Alphabeticall conteyning and teaching the true writing, and understanding of hard usuall English wordes, borrowed from the Hebrew, Greeke, Latine, or French. This modest volume is widely considered the first monolingual English dictionary. Cawdrey's aim was to help individuals, particularly women and those with limited education, understand the meaning of complex words commonly found in written texts. While A Table Alphabeticall was relatively small, containing only around 2,500 words, it represented a crucial step towards the creation of more comprehensive dictionaries.

The Rise of Scholarly Lexicography: John Bullokar and Beyond

Following Cawdrey's pioneering effort, other lexicographers emerged, building upon his work and striving to create more comprehensive and scholarly dictionaries. John Bullokar's An English Expositor (1616) was a notable improvement, featuring a more extensive vocabulary and more detailed definitions. Subsequent dictionaries, such as Henry Cockeram's The English Dictionarie (1623), continued to expand the scope of English lexicography, including not only explanations of difficult words but also information on etymology and usage. These early lexicographers played a vital role in establishing the foundations of modern dictionary making.

Nathan Bailey's Dictionaries: Setting a New Standard

Nathan Bailey was a prominent English lexicographer and schoolmaster, best known for his two dictionaries, the Dictionarium Domesticum (1736) and An Universal Etymological English Dictionary (1721). Bailey's Universal Etymological English Dictionary was particularly influential. It was the largest English dictionary of its time and went through numerous editions, serving as a primary source for Samuel Johnson's groundbreaking A Dictionary of the English Language. Bailey's work marked a significant advance in English lexicography, providing a more comprehensive and accurate record of the language.

Samuel Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language: A Monumental Achievement

No discussion of the history of English dictionaries would be complete without acknowledging Samuel Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language (1755). This monumental work, compiled single-handedly by Johnson over seven years, was a landmark achievement in lexicography. Johnson's dictionary was not only comprehensive, containing over 40,000 words, but it also included illustrative quotations from a wide range of English literature. These quotations provided context and demonstrated how words were actually used, setting a new standard for dictionary making. Johnson's dictionary was more than just a list of words; it was a reflection of the English language and culture of his time. His work established him as one of the most important figures in the history of lexicography. He aimed to standardize the language and