Audiobook Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Diameter" to "Dinarchus"

This text provides a comprehensive survey of dictionaries from ancient antiquity to the modern era. It traces the development of lexicographical principles, distinguishing between simple word-lists, specialized glossaries, and vast historical reference works. The author examines the classical Greek and Latin vocabularies, medieval compilations, and the growth of Romance, Teutonic, and Oriental word-books. Particular attention is given to the methodological evolution in the nineteenth century, emphasizing the historical principle, the collection of citations, and the handling of etymology. Major landmarks such as Johnson's dictionary, Littré's work, Grimm's dictionary, and the Oxford New English Dictionary are analyzed to illustrate the shift from standardizing language usage to compiling exhaustive inventories of historical vocabulary. The text concludes with an extensive bibliographical guide categorized by linguistic families.