Encyclopedic dictionary

Encyclopedia (plural: encyclopaedias and lexicons; older spelling: Lexicon ) is generally the name of a reference book or dictionary in the broader sense. In addition, there have been occasional used as a synonym for a language dictionary. In modern usage it refers to today mostly a reference book with factual information (real dictionary, encyclopedia, property dictionary ) where, depending on the size nor between lexicon in the narrow sense and Encyclopedia or biographies - compilation ( Who's Who ) is distinguished.

Colloquially and in advertising parlance is blurred. Sometimes a conceptual distinction between dictionary is lexicographically made ​​(linguistic information ) and glossary ( factual information ). It comes between the types of reference works on overlaps.

Word history

In antiquity, the Greek word for dictionary is λἐξεις, lexeis. It is derived from λἐξις, lexis, the word. The shape λεξικόν, encyclopedia was first applied by Photios I ( 891 †) on the work of the 5th century. In the manuscript tradition and the Dictionaries of Photius and the Suda are referred to by this term. In late antiquity and the Middle Ages Lexicon is used for various dictionaries in the Greek language. In contrast, this term is used in the Latin -speaking neither in antiquity nor in the entire high and late Middle Ages.

The early medieval Greek name was - as the name Encyclopedia - 1480 re- introduced at the end of the Middle Ages in Italy by the humanists and initially applied only to learned Greek works. The first appointment of a German reference work than lexicon took place only in 1660 by God Help spreader: Poetic Lexicon and Words book.

The first dictionary of the early modern period early with this name is the bilingual Greek-Latin dictionary of John Crastonus, entitled Lexicon Graeco- latinum bears in the edition of 1483, while back issues are still named as Dictionary. The synonymy of Lexicon and Dictionary also witnessed the first monolingual Latin Lexicon of Alberich from Rosate. Sive Lexicon Dictionary utriusque iuris, Pavia 1498 Accordingly, the title of the first German lexicon shows the synonymy of lexicon and dictionary to. It is Gotthilff spreader ... German Daedalus Begreiffendt a fully außgefuhrtes Poetic Lexicon and words - book .. which appeared in 1660. A later example is the full German words book vel Lexicon germanico - latinum of Ernst Christoph Steinbach (Breslau 1734).

The emerging in Germany since the beginning of the 18th century Real Dictionaries wear throughout the title Lexicon. Through the triumph of Konversationslexikon since the beginning of the 19th century, the use of property within the meaning dictionary has further enhanced. By the end of the 20th century, a uniform use was not achieved.

Spelling

The Latinized spelling Lexicon predominates in the 15th and 16th centuries fully. The only use of lexicon in the 16th century is occupied for an edition of the Greek dictionary of Hesychius of Alexandria in 1530. The first dictionary of the German language part in this notation is the Greek - German lexicon of Jeremiah Felbinger, Leiden. Elsevier 1657 In the 18th century predominates in German works, the Lexicon and spelling only in the 19th century consists lexicon for more and more by. In the first half of the 20th century Lexicon comes sporadically before for German -language dictionaries. Since 1950, this form is detectable only at foreign plants.

Grammar

Lexicon is a neuter in the Greek. The word was Latinized by the scholars of the 18th century, especially in the way that the Greek ending- on was obtained in the singular form of the nominative and accusative and the shape Lexicum therefore does not occur. The other forms were made ​​according to the Latin o- declination. In titles and subtitles of works, therefore the following word forms occur:

In the 19th century, the word has been adopted as a foreign word in German. It is here in the singular only in the genitive flexed ( the lexicon ) and remains unbowed in all other singular forms. In the plural, it retains the Latinized form lexicons.