Books

Octavo (14 cm x 21,5 cm). 1026 unnumbered pages. Hardcover / Original, 18th century leather with new spine-label. In protective Mylar. Binding with some rubbing and minor defects to the leather. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. From the library of John & Richard Meade (Ballymartle), with the name of John Meade on the titlepage. This fascinating Dublin - Edition of Samuel Johnson's famous Dictionary includes a wonderful summary of the "History of the English Language". In a lengthy chapter, prior to the Dictionary itself, Johnson explains "The whole Fabrick [sic] and scheme of the English language in Gothick or Teutonick : it is a dialect of that tongue, which prevails over all the northern countries of Europe, except those where the Sclavonian is spoken. Of these languages Dr.Hicks this exhibited the genealogy. Gothick (leading to Anglo-Saxon (which includes Dutch, Frisick, English) - Francick (which includes German) - Cimbrick (which includes Islandick, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish). Samue Johnsonson then continues and offers "Alfred's paraphrase or imitation of Boethius and his short preface, which I have selected as the first specimen of ancient English" (Johnson offers the Boethius - text in original ancient English and must have had a special Font cut for it). Sprache: english.

Samuel Johnson's 'A Dictionary of the English Language' is among the most influential dictionaries in the history of the English language. First published on 15 April 1755, the dictionary offered comprehensive definitions and illustrative examples of usage.