Latin Dictionary: choose the right one!
This is based on my old Listmania entry where I listed most Latin dictionaries known to me. I own a good number of the books listed here. Yes, even the Oxford Latin Dictionary. Unfortunately, most image links on this page are no longer working, but the dictionaries are still available, good as ever. And I would certainly like to encourage people not to trust online dictionaries with the exception of the Lewis & Short Latin dictionary (somewhat difficult to navigate, in my opinion).Incidently, if you are looking for a standalone Latin dictionary for Windows, I have a downloadable version of a complete Lewis & Short's Latin Dictionary
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Oxford
Latin Dictionary Author: P. G. W. Glare The clarity of definitions in this dictionary is unmatched. Keep in mind, however, that this is a Classical Latin dictionary. If you are interested in later Latin it will be of less help. A digitized version of OLD may already be in the works. |
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Latin
Dictionary Founded on Andrew's Edition of Freund... Author: Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, Wi...; Goes beyond Classical Latin. The structure of entries can be confusing at times. This dictionary is pretty old, so you may found its early editions online free of charge, as a searchable database as a part of the Perseus project and also as a DJVU document here |
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Elementary
Latin Dictionary Author: Charlton T. Lewis; A good "every day" dictionary for an advanced Latinist. Don't confuse it with the "full" Lewis & Short! You will still need at least one comprehensive dictionary. Personally, I have both OLD and L&S. |
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Cassell's
Latin Dictionary Author: D. P. Simpson; Latin-English, English-Latin. Viewed by many as the best of the kind. |
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Chambers
Murray Latin-English Dictionary Author: William Smith, John Lockwood; Latin-English only, a good replacement for a "big" dictionary. |
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Mediae
Latinitatis Lexicon Minus Author: J. F. Niermeyer, C. Van De Kieft, J....; A great dictionary, but if you can also get Blaise ("Dictionnaire latin-français des auteurs chrétiens") and Du Cange ("Glossarium ad scriptores mediae et infimae latinitatis", volumes are available at gallica.bnf.fr and archive.org) |
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Dictionary
of Ecclesiastical Latin Author: Leo F. Stelten; There are much better dictionaries of Later Latin, but for the price this one will do. It is also well published. |
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Collins
Gem Latin Dictionary Author: Harpercollins; I happen to like the typesetting in this one |
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Glossary
of Later Latin to Ad Author: Alexander Souter; Can be used as a companion to Oxford Latin Dictionary |
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The
Latin Sexual Vocabulary Author: J. N. Adams; |
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Consecrated
Phrases Author: James T. Bretzke; |
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Cassell's
Concise Latin-English, English-Latin Diction... Author: D. P. Simpson; |
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Gardener's
Latin Author: Bill Neal, Barbara Damrosch; Botanic Latin is ... well... a very special Latin. If that's what you need, that's what you will get. |
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Langenscheidt's
Universal Dictionary Latin Author: Langenscheidt; This one will actually fit in a shirt pocket. Far from being comprehensive, but very convenient. |
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English
Words from Latin and Greek Elements Author: Donald M. Ayers, Thomas D. Worthen, ...; |
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The
Bantam New College Latin & English Dictionary Author: John Traupman; |
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Mnemonic Latin Mnemonic hints for learning Latin vocabulary and grammar. |
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