Volume 1

A glossary, or, Collection of words, phrases, names, and allusions to customs, proverbs, etc., which have been thought to require illustration, in the works of English authors, particularly Shakespeare, and his contemporaries / [Robert Nares].

  • Nares, Robert, 1753-1829.
Date:
1882
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A glossary, or, Collection of words, phrases, names, and allusions to customs, proverbs, etc., which have been thought to require illustration, in the works of English authors, particularly Shakespeare, and his contemporaries / [Robert Nares]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Lydgate, Occleve, and all those writers who can properly be called English; that is, who wrote when the language was no longer Saxon. A Saxon Dictionary of the same form, with all the examples at length, would complete the historical view of our national speech. The British, and its dialects, belong to another family. Verum lisec ipse equidem, spatiis exclusus iniquis, Prsetereo, atque aliis post me memoranda relinquo. I have neither length of life, nor perseverance in study remaining, to undertake either of those tasks. Our illustrious countryman, Johnson, has shown us that no Dictionary can be satisfactory without a copious selection of examples, and has given us the most convenient form; his plan and method have, therefore, been followed here, as far as seemed necessary in a work less scientific. The Chaucerian and the Saxon Dictionaries, whenever formed, ought surely to adopt a similar arrangement. If such a plan should ever be completed, it may then, perhaps, be advisable to throw out from Johnson’s Dictionary all the words not actually classical in the language at that time ; so as to make it a standard of correct phraseology. Johnson has no small number of words which were completely out of use when he compiled his Dictionary. That number has been greatly augmented by his editor, Todd; with the very laudable design of comprising the whole history of our language, if possible, in that one work. The inconvenience arising from this method is certainly not great; and chiefly affects foreigners, who may sometimes be puzzled to decide what words are actually in use, and what are obsolete. The separation of the Dictionaries, as here suggested, would make all clear ; but, perhaps, it is a plan more specious in theory, than likely to be realised in practice. It may be objected, that, according to this notion, I have not even perfected my own link of the philological chain. This I shall not attempt to deny ; but, probably, enough is here done to encourage others to complete the undertaking; enough, too, for immediate use, till something more perfect shall appear. To diversify the work, I have not confined it to words, but have included phrases, proverbial sayings, with allusions to customs, and even to persons, when something of their history seemed necessary to illustrate my authors. I have also made it occasionally a vehicle for critical observations on the text of our general favorite, Shakespeare; especially in such passages as have been most disputed by his commentators. I have thus endeavoured to make it not merely a book of reference, but also an occasional amusement for literary leisure. The authors most studiously illustrated are those who are most likely to attract the general reader; and if others are occasionally quoted, it is chiefly for the sake of the light they throw upon those of primary consideration.