A Dictionary of the First or Oldest Words in the English Language: From the Semi-Saxon Period of A.D. 1250 to 1300

"A Dictionary of the First or Oldest Words in the English Language" by Herbert Coleridge is a scholarly dictionary written in the mid-19th century. This work serves as a comprehensive inventory of every word found in the printed English literature of the 13th century, aiming to establish a historical perspective on the evolution of the English language. The book is likely to attract linguists, philologists, and those interested in the historical development of English vocabulary. The opening of the dictionary begins with a preface where Coleridge outlines the purpose and significance of the work. He emphasizes that the dictionary aims to provide a foundational resource for the Philological Society's larger project of compiling an English dictionary. In this section, he notes how the words are organized, detailing the approach taken to illustrate both older forms and modern equivalents, along with the systematic referencing of etymological roots. The introduction also acknowledges contributions from various scholars, highlighting a collaborative effort toward documenting the lexicon of early English literature and its historical context.