Oxford Latin Dictionary
Encyclopedia
The Oxford Latin Dictionary (or OLD) is the standard lexicon of Classical Latin
, completed in 1982.
The dictionary professes to be "independent alike of Lewis & Short
on the one hand and of the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae
on the other." It "is based on an entirely fresh reading of the Latin sources. It follows, generally speaking, the principles of the Oxford English Dictionary, and its formal layout of articles is similar." (p. v).
The first editor of the dictionary was A. Souter
, but after he retired in 1939, Cyril Bailey and J. M. Wyllie were appointed co-editors. From 1949, Wyllie was the sole editor, and he was replaced in 1954 by P. G. W. Glare, who remained in the position until the completion of the lexicon.
Other members of the editorial staff were C. O. Brink (1938–42), E. A Parker (1939–46), M. Alford (1942–45), J. Chadwick
(1946–52), B. V. Slater (1947–49), D. C. Browning (1949–50), W. M. Edwards (1950–69), J. D. Craig (1952–53), C. L. Howard (1952–58), G. E. Turton (1954–70), R. H. Barrow (1954–82), S. Trenkner (1955–57), R. C. Palmer (1957–82), G. M. Lee (1968–82), and D. Raven (1969–70).
’s dictionary from 1879. However, whereas L&S included late and ecclesiastical Latin, the OLD covers only Latin literature until AD 200. Still, OLD is a far more reliable dictionary than L&S, since it is based on a whole new reading of the literature, whereas L&S incorporates much material from older dictionaries.
The Thesaurus Linguae Latinae
is far more ambitious than the OLD, but after 100 years only two thirds of this comprehensive dictionary has been published.
Classical Latin
Classical Latin in simplest terms is the socio-linguistic register of the Latin language regarded by the enfranchised and empowered populations of the late Roman republic and the Roman empire as good Latin. Most writers during this time made use of it...
, completed in 1982.
The dictionary professes to be "independent alike of Lewis & Short
A Latin Dictionary
A Latin Dictionary is a popular English-language lexicographical work of the Latin language, completed in 1879, published by Oxford University Press, and still widely used by classical scholars and Latinists.-History:...
on the one hand and of the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae
Thesaurus Linguae Latinae
The Thesaurus Linguae Latinae is a monumental dictionary of Latin. It encompasses the Latin language from the time of its origin to the time of Isidore of Seville ....
on the other." It "is based on an entirely fresh reading of the Latin sources. It follows, generally speaking, the principles of the Oxford English Dictionary, and its formal layout of articles is similar." (p. v).
History
The compilation of the more than one million quotations on which the work was based began in 1933. The dictionary itself was originally published in eight fascicles at two-yearly intervals from 1968 until 1982. The complete dictionary contains c. 40,000 entries on 2,150 pages.The first editor of the dictionary was A. Souter
Alexander Souter
Alexander Souter was a Scottish biblical scholar.-Biography:Souter was born in Perth, and studied at the University of Aberdeen and the University of Cambridge. He subsequently became a Latin assistant at Aberdeen. While at Cambridge he studied under J. E. B...
, but after he retired in 1939, Cyril Bailey and J. M. Wyllie were appointed co-editors. From 1949, Wyllie was the sole editor, and he was replaced in 1954 by P. G. W. Glare, who remained in the position until the completion of the lexicon.
Other members of the editorial staff were C. O. Brink (1938–42), E. A Parker (1939–46), M. Alford (1942–45), J. Chadwick
John Chadwick
John Chadwick was an English linguist and classical scholar most famous for his role in deciphering Linear B, along with Michael Ventris.-Early life and education:...
(1946–52), B. V. Slater (1947–49), D. C. Browning (1949–50), W. M. Edwards (1950–69), J. D. Craig (1952–53), C. L. Howard (1952–58), G. E. Turton (1954–70), R. H. Barrow (1954–82), S. Trenkner (1955–57), R. C. Palmer (1957–82), G. M. Lee (1968–82), and D. Raven (1969–70).
Comparison with other dictionaries
The OLD replaces Lewis and ShortA Latin Dictionary
A Latin Dictionary is a popular English-language lexicographical work of the Latin language, completed in 1879, published by Oxford University Press, and still widely used by classical scholars and Latinists.-History:...
’s dictionary from 1879. However, whereas L&S included late and ecclesiastical Latin, the OLD covers only Latin literature until AD 200. Still, OLD is a far more reliable dictionary than L&S, since it is based on a whole new reading of the literature, whereas L&S incorporates much material from older dictionaries.
The Thesaurus Linguae Latinae
Thesaurus Linguae Latinae
The Thesaurus Linguae Latinae is a monumental dictionary of Latin. It encompasses the Latin language from the time of its origin to the time of Isidore of Seville ....
is far more ambitious than the OLD, but after 100 years only two thirds of this comprehensive dictionary has been published.
See also
- A Latin DictionaryA Latin DictionaryA Latin Dictionary is a popular English-language lexicographical work of the Latin language, completed in 1879, published by Oxford University Press, and still widely used by classical scholars and Latinists.-History:...
- Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British SourcesDictionary of Medieval Latin from British SourcesThe Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources is a lexicon of Medieval Latin, published by Oxford University Press for the British Academy, and sometimes referred to as simply the Dictionary of Medieval Latin or the Medieval Latin Dictionary. After decades of preparatory work, the...
- William Whitaker's WordsWilliam Whitaker's WordsWilliam Whitaker's Words is a computer program that parses the inflection or conjugation of a Latin word, and also translates the root into English. Given an English word, the program outputs Latin translations...