What is a dictionary?


A dictionary is a resource which lists the words in a language alphabetically, along with their definitions, usages, etymology, pronunciations, and, sometimes, translations. Dictionaries are concerned with linguistic information.

There are several types of dictionaries -- monolingual, bilingual, etymological. In addition, there are dictionaries which resemble encyclopedias in that they are collections of words related to a specific subject.

monolingual dictionary lists the words of a single language with their definitions.

A bilingual dictionary connects the words of one language to the words of another language. 

An etymological dictionary provides the etymology of words. The etymology of a word is its origin and the development of its meaning and usage over time. The meaning of words is not static, and, in research, it is critical to understand and to analyze words in the context of their usage. 

specialized or technical dictionary is a dictionary which focuses on a specific subject. 
 

A glossary is an alphabetical list of vocabulary with definitions in a particular area of knowledge. It is a resource which can stand alone, but is most often found attached to another resource. 

Celtic Language Dictionaries

Etymological Dictionaries

Glossaries

 

A Dictionary of the Old-Irish Glosses in the Milan Codex Ambrosianus C 301 inf

Brief explanatory notes in Old Irish, added to the Latin text commentary on the psalms, these glosses are a vital resource for our understanding of Old Irish.
 

Early Irish Glossaries Database

Searchable database of early Irish glossaries, the product of a research project undertaken at the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic, in the University of Cambridge.

Specialized Dictionaries for Celtic Studies