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When did a lavatory become a loo? And why were Victorian trousers "unmentionables"? The world's first historical thesaurus, which is to be published after more than 40 years of research, claims to have the answers. | When did a lavatory become a loo? And why were Victorian trousers "unmentionables"? The world's first historical thesaurus, which is to be published after more than 40 years of research, claims to have the answers. |
Loved by writers, not to mention crossword cheats, Roget's Thesaurus has never been out of print since it was published in 1852 to "assist in literary composition". | Loved by writers, not to mention crossword cheats, Roget's Thesaurus has never been out of print since it was published in 1852 to "assist in literary composition". |
The best known dictionary of its kind, which groups synonyms - words with similar meanings - has been a source of reference for more than 150 years. | The best known dictionary of its kind, which groups synonyms - words with similar meanings - has been a source of reference for more than 150 years. |
But a new beast is emerging from Britain's vast ocean of words, a colossus to rival Roget. | But a new beast is emerging from Britain's vast ocean of words, a colossus to rival Roget. |
A 40-YEAR LABOUR OF LOVE World's first historical thesaurusContains almost every word in English from Old English to present dayStarted in 1964 by Michael Samuels, then professor of English Language at University of GlasgowContains 800,000 meanings, organised into 236,000 categories and subcategoriesPublished in two volumes on 8 October 2009 | A 40-YEAR LABOUR OF LOVE World's first historical thesaurusContains almost every word in English from Old English to present dayStarted in 1964 by Michael Samuels, then professor of English Language at University of GlasgowContains 800,000 meanings, organised into 236,000 categories and subcategoriesPublished in two volumes on 8 October 2009 |
The Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary is the culmination of 44 years of painstaking work by scholars at the University of Glasgow. | The Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary is the culmination of 44 years of painstaking work by scholars at the University of Glasgow. |
It not only groups words with similar meanings but does so in chronological order according to their history - with the oldest first and most recent last. According to its publisher, the OED, it's the largest thesaurus in the world and the first historical thesaurus in any language. | It not only groups words with similar meanings but does so in chronological order according to their history - with the oldest first and most recent last. According to its publisher, the OED, it's the largest thesaurus in the world and the first historical thesaurus in any language. |
With 800,000 meanings, 600,000 words and more than 230,000 categories and sub categories, it's twice as big as Roget's version. | With 800,000 meanings, 600,000 words and more than 230,000 categories and sub categories, it's twice as big as Roget's version. |
And if that doesn't have him turning in his grave, it also contains almost every word in English from Old English to the present day, or 2003 to be precise - the cut-off date for the new dictionary. | And if that doesn't have him turning in his grave, it also contains almost every word in English from Old English to the present day, or 2003 to be precise - the cut-off date for the new dictionary. |
So what can we learn from a book like this? Part of the dictionary's appeal is its ability to show how words reflect the values of society at a given moment in history. | So what can we learn from a book like this? Part of the dictionary's appeal is its ability to show how words reflect the values of society at a given moment in history. |
Words we commonly use today have evolved and sometimes changed unrecognisably. English language professor Christian Kay has become an authority on such lexicographical metamorphoses - having given much of her working life to compiling the new thesaurus. | |
An English language professor, Ms Kay, one of four co-editors of the publication, began work on it in the late 1960s - while she was in her 20s. With the help of this edited extract (below) from the new historical thesaurus, Ms Kay explains how an unremarkable word, such as "trousers" has evolved over almost 500 years. | An English language professor, Ms Kay, one of four co-editors of the publication, began work on it in the late 1960s - while she was in her 20s. With the help of this edited extract (below) from the new historical thesaurus, Ms Kay explains how an unremarkable word, such as "trousers" has evolved over almost 500 years. |
Finally, how does Ms Kay feel, witnessing her work, after 40 years, make it into print? | Finally, how does Ms Kay feel, witnessing her work, after 40 years, make it into print? |
"It's a big moment for me," she says. "In some ways I'm glad to feel it's all over, one of my main occupations has been fundraising which has been hard to keep going. There will be a lot of satisfaction to see it in on the page." | "It's a big moment for me," she says. "In some ways I'm glad to feel it's all over, one of my main occupations has been fundraising which has been hard to keep going. There will be a lot of satisfaction to see it in on the page." |
Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |