A Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words: Obsolete Phrases, Proverbs, and Ancient Customs, from the XIV Century

by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps

So far I may be permitted to speak without intrenching on the limits of criticism. A work containing more than 50,000 words, many of which have never appeared even in scattered glossaries, and illustrated, with very few exceptions, by original authorities, much contain valuable material for the philogist, even if disfigured by errors. With respect to the latter contingency, I am not acquainted with any glossary, comprising merely a few hundred words which does not contain blunders, although in many instances the careful attention of the editor has been specially directed to the task. Can I then anticipate that in a field so vast that no single life would sufice for a minute examination of every object, I could have escaped proportionate liabilities? That such may be pointed out I have little doubt, notwithstanding the pains to prevent their occurrence, but it will be manifestly unfair to make them the test of merit, or thence to pronounce a judgement on the accuracy of the whole.

Genres: Nonfiction

960 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps, born James Orchard Halliwell, was an English Shakespearean scholar, antiquarian, and a collector of English nursery rhymes and fairy tales.