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The Evolution of Dictionary

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The Evolution of Dictionary

The first dictionaries were bilingual or multilingual lexicons that supported translation from one language
to another. The earliest known example is the Sumerian-Akkadian wordlists on Akkadian Empire
cuneiform tablets from around 2300 BC. However, the Chinese Dictionary from around 300 BC was
known as the oldest extant single language dictionary.

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In 850 The BCE, Evolution

Japan created of theDictionary
first dictionary to be
written as example
a listis theofSumerian-Akkadian
words. wordlists on Akkadian Empire cuneiform tablets from around
The first dictionaries were bilingual or multilingual lexicons that supported translation from one language to another.
The earliest known
2300 BC. However, the Chinese Dictionary from around 300 BC was known as the oldest extant single language
dictionary.

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In 1220, John of Garland published a book he titled

The Evolution of Dictionary
"Dictionarius" which means a manual or book of words to aid in
The first dictionaries were bilingual or multilingual lexicons that supported translation from one language to another.
Latin diction
The earliest and
known example coined
is the the term
Sumerian-Akkadian wordlists dictionary
on Akkadian Empire which was
cuneiform tablets originally
from around
2300 BC. However, the Chinese Dictionary from around 300 BC was known as the oldest extant single language
not arranged alphabetically.
dictionary.

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Thethe
In 1502, Evolution
first Latin of Dictionary
dictionary was printed, and
The first dictionaries were bilingual or multilingual lexicons that supported translation from one language to another.
it was later updated to be multilingual.
The earliest known example is the Sumerian-Akkadian wordlists on Akkadian Empire cuneiform tablets from around
2300 BC. However, the Chinese Dictionary from around 300 BC was known as the oldest extant single language
dictionary.

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In 1604, Robert Cawdrey created the first known single-

language The Evolution
dictionary of English of Dictionary
that employed the use of
The first dictionaries were bilingual or multilingual lexicons that supported translation from one language to another.
anThealphabetical
earliest known example is theordering
Sumerian-Akkadian system called
wordlists on Akkadian Empirethe
cuneiform tablets from around
2300 BC. However, the Chinese Dictionary from around 300 BC was known as the oldest extant single language
“Table
dictionary. Alphabeticall”.

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1611
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In 1611, Sebastian Covarrubias of Spain published the first

The Evolution of Dictionary
Spanish dictionary. It was formatted as a list and was
The first dictionaries were bilingual or multilingual lexicons that supported translation from one language to another.
monolingual to serve
The earliest known example as a reference
is the Sumerian-Akkadian for the
wordlists on Akkadian meaning
Empire and
cuneiform tablets from usage
around of
2300 BC. However, the Chinese Dictionary from around 300 BC was known as the oldest extant single language
words
dictionary.within the Spanish language.

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In 1755, Samuel Johnson took dictionaries to the next level with

his production of "A Dictionary of the English Language". It was
The Evolution of Dictionary
a two-volume dictionary that was far more extensive and detailed
The first dictionaries were bilingual or multilingual lexicons that supported translation from one language to another.
than any
The earliest of example
known its predecessors,
is the Sumerian-Akkadianwhich
wordlists onremained standard
Akkadian Empire cuneiform for
tablets from over
around
2300 BC. However, the Chinese Dictionary from around 300 BC was known as the oldest extant single language
150 years and is considered by many to be the first 'modern'
dictionary.

dictionary.
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In 1806, the first dictionary produced by American Noah Webster, A Compendious

Dictionary of the English Language was released. It was the first dictionary with

year,
The Evolution of Dictionary
30,000 entries to describe English as it was spoken in North America. In the following
an American Dictionary of the English Language, which took twenty-seven years
The first dictionaries were bilingual or multilingual lexicons that supported translation from one language to another.
toThe
finish,
earliestwas
known compiled bySumerian-Akkadian
example is the Webster. Webster wordlistsstudied 26Empire
on Akkadian languages,
cuneiform including Old
tablets from around
2300 BC. However, the Chinese Dictionary from around 300 BC was known as the oldest extant single language
English (Anglo-Saxon), German, Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, Hebrew,
dictionary.
Arabic, and Sanskrit, to assess the derivation of terms.

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In 1825, Noah Webster finished his dictionary in Paris and Cambridge that was titled
“An American Dictionary of the English Language” an expanded and more

vocabulary
The Evolution of Dictionary
comprehensive version of his dictionary. It had 70,000 words, with 12,000 new
that had
The first dictionaries never orappeared
were bilingual multilingual in a published
lexicons dictionary
that supported before.
translation from He wanted
one language to another.
The earliest known example is the Sumerian-Akkadian wordlists on Akkadian Empire cuneiform tablets from around
simpler English spelling as he believed that English spelling rules are unnecessary
2300 BC. However, the Chinese Dictionary from around 300 BC was known as the oldest extant single language
complex,
dictionary. and it was soon published in 1828.

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In 1840, the second version of Webster’s dictionary was published in two volumes.
After revising the appendix of the dictionary, it was still not popular even after he died.

Imperial
The Evolution of Dictionary
Though, his dictionary became the standard that contributed to the creation of "The
Dictionary, English, Technological, and Scientific, Adapted to the Present
The first dictionaries were bilingual or multilingual lexicons that supported translation from one language to another.
State of Literature,
The earliest known example Science, and Art; Onwordlists
is the Sumerian-Akkadian the Basis of Webster's
on Akkadian English
Empire cuneiform tabletsDictionary"
from around by
2300 BC. However, the Chinese Dictionary from around 300 BC was known as the oldest extant single language
Blackie and Son in Glasgow which was published as the first general dictionary of
dictionary.
English.

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and
The first
The Evolution of Dictionary
In 1889, all previous copyrights to Webster's work had expired,
other publishers
dictionaries released
were bilingual or multilingual their
lexicons owntranslation
that supported works, frommaking
one language tosure
another.to
The earliest known example is the Sumerian-Akkadian wordlists on Akkadian Empire cuneiform tablets from around
include Webster's
2300 BC. However, namefrominaround
the Chinese Dictionary the300title.
BC was known as the oldest extant single language
dictionary.

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In 1890, George and Charles Merriam published revisions of the dictionary with

remaining
The Evolution of Dictionary
approximately 175,000 words after they negotiated with the heirs of Webster to sell the
copies of 1841 edition. Merriam then labeled the 1890 edition "Webster's
The first dictionaries were bilingual or multilingual lexicons that supported translation from one language to another.
International
The earliest known Dictionary
example is the of the English wordlists
Sumerian-Akkadian Language" to emphasize
on Akkadian thattablets
Empire cuneiform it was
froma direct
around
2300 BC. However, the Chinese Dictionary from around 300 BC was known as the oldest extant single language
descendent
dictionary.
of Webster's original dictionary.

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I I I I I I I

In 1928, Oxford English Dictionary (OED) released the complete OED in 12 volumes

The Evolution of Dictionary

replacing the Johnson’s dictionary which was the English standard for 150 years. The
first volume of the "New English Dictionary" was released in 1884, followed by the
tenth and
The first last volume
dictionaries in 1928.
were bilingual It tooklexicons
or multilingual themthat
nearly 50translation
supported years to complete
from one languagethe full volume
to another.
The earliest known example is the Sumerian-Akkadian wordlists on Akkadian Empire cuneiform tablets from around
with
2300William
BC. However,Chester Minor,
the Chinese one
Dictionary fromof the key
around contributors
300 BC was known as theto theextant
oldest project who was a
single language
convicted
dictionary. murderer.

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In 1933, the compendium was reissued in twelve volumes under

The Evolution of Dictionary
its official new title "The Oxford English Dictionary” after the
Delegates ofwere
The first dictionaries thebilingual
Clarendon Pressthatin
or multilingual lexicons the translation
supported University of Oxford
from one language to another.
The earliest known example is the Sumerian-Akkadian wordlists on Akkadian Empire cuneiform tablets from around
signed overthepublishing
2300 BC. However, rights
Chinese Dictionary from around to the
300 BC Philological
was known Society.
as the oldest extant single languageThe
dictionary.
OED now has almost 600,000 words.
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Today, The Internet era introduced online dictionaries to the PC and,

more recently, the smart phone. David Skinner, in 2013, wrote, "Among

holistic,
The Evolution of Dictionary
the top ten lookups on Merriam-Webster Online at this moment are
pragmatic, caveat, esoteric and bourgeois. Teaching users about
The first dictionaries were bilingual or multilingual lexicons that supported translation from one language to another.
words they
The earliest knowndon't
examplealready know has
is the Sumerian-Akkadian been,
wordlists historically,
on Akkadian an
Empire cuneiformaimtabletsof
2300 BC. However, the Chinese Dictionary from around 300 BC was known as the oldest extant single language
from around

lexicography,
dictionary. and modern dictionaries do this well."

I I I I I I I
1825 1840 1889 1890 1928 1933
Today
References
A brief history of dictionaries. (2022, April 2). Word Connection.
https://word-connection.com/a-brief-history-of-dictionaries
Dictionary. (n.d.). vocabulary.com.
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/dictionary
Dictionary: Overview & History. (n.d.). study.com.
https://study.com/learn/lesson/what-is-a-dictionary
History of Dictionary. (n.d.). populartimelines.com.
https://populartimelines.com/timeline/Dictionary
The history of English dictionaries. (n.d.). Pilinut Press.
https://www.pilinutpress.com/Articles/Reading/HistoryofEnglishDictionaries