English Dictionaries, 800-1700

This book presents a learned and readable account of the topical tradition in English lexicography. It considers early glossaries, treatises for the learning of foreign languages, and didactic dialogues, and provides in-depth examinations of later, more comprehensive works. It makes an important contribution to the history of the English lexicon and English semantics, and to the study of English lexicography. It also reveals a great deal about the history of English ideas over nine centuries.
"A rich and multifaceted book, and one which will appeal to a variety of audiences." International Journal of Lexicography