Le grand dictionnaire françois-latin - 1628

              This early 17th century dictionary uses both Latin and French to define French words and phrases. Though the book includes several prefaces in French, the grammar section is written in Latin and the title page states that it intends to be useful for “Nations estrangeres.” Latin here is used as a medium to introduce users to the French vernacular, the grammar section presaging the organization of teaching grammars that became popular in the later 17th century. Although French has taken the place of Latin here, the structure and form of the Grand Dictionnaire continues that of the Latin and multilingual dictionaries that come before it; literary usage is still of primary concern and the text has a decidedly philological bent. A guide to this edition precedes the text explaining the way that archaic and disused French words are marked to distinguish them from active ones, and how French phrases with no Latin equivalents are also flagged in the text. Also like the Latin dictionaries that came before it, turns of phrase from literature—here French rather than classical—are included with citations to the authors who used them.

Organization:

Text is alphabetical and in two columns. French is set in italics, Latin in roman. Proper names are set in small capitals. No page numbers.

Bibliographic Information

Condition

Covers are wanting, but the binding of the textblock is intact. Stitching of the spine intact and visible. Partial headband stitching (green) remains along with some remnants of reinforcing paper which are visible in spine. The initial partial folio shows remnant of cut away pages (paste down pages are now missing, but flyleaves are present). There is light worm damage on interior pages (especially in signatures P-R, 2F-3I, and 3O-3Q). The last section of the book is water damaged and the final signature (4B) is damaged and partially wanting (see collation).

R3-R6 (interior of sig R) is not a full size sheet and deckled edge can be seen ~1cm shorter than standard bottom of the page.

Collation

4^o: (flyleaf remnant of first folio), ã⁴ (ã ij signed),2§-4§⁴ ($2), A-4B⁸($4) (4B7 and 8 wanting, part of what would be 4B7 has been folded inside and is still attached to 4B2)

Signatures are labeled with roman numerals (e.g. A, Aij, Aiij, iiij). Rrr3 instead of Rrr iij.

No page numbers.

Contents

ã1-4 – Prefaces and dedications (in French)

2§-4§⁴ Compendium Gallicae | Grammatices (in Latin)

A1r-3Y7r - Dictionary

3Y7v – 3Z7r - Les noms des peuples, regions, villes, mers, montaignes, rivieres, et autres lieux, disposez par ordre Alphabetique, avec leur interpretation en Latin

3Z7v - Essay de proverbs (in French)

Colophon

A Rouen : De l'imprimerie de Robert de Rouues ..., le 13 de mars 1628.