Kiraz Historical Dictionaries Archive

The Century Dictionary and Cyclopaedia, edited by William Dwight Whitney and Benjamin E. Smith, comprises twelve volumes, including over 500,000 defined terms, and two volumes of concise encyclopedic entries. The Century Dictionary contains full, accurate, and clear definitions, and its many supporting quotations are chosen to illustrate, where helpful, the typical uses of a word or its specific sense. Whitney, who is still regarded as the greatest American linguist of his time, gathered together a remarkable staff of general and specialist editors, that included many luminaries of American scholarship, to compile this beautiful dictionary.

The standard dictionary for the translation of Arabic into French for many years, this massive work contains all known Arabic roots. Apart from standard Arabic, the dialects of Algiers and Morocco are also included in this two-volume set.

A standard-setting lexicon of classical languages, Freytag’s Arabic-Latin dictionary remains a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of language study or anyone seeking insight into Arabic literature. This four-volume set contains a treasure trove of information.

This massive two volume supplemental dictionary was originally intended to complete E. W. Lane’s lexicographical work, but has come to stand as an essential wordbook in its own right. Going beyond a customary dictionary, it is a wealth of information about the Arabic world.

A historical dictionary between two Semitic languages, Cardahi’s Syriac-Arabic dictionary was among the first attempts to bring together the classical languages of Eastern Christianity and Islam. Consistently referred to by subsequent Arabists, this lexicon has become a well-known reference book.

A historical dictionary translating Syriac into Arabic, this handy volume brings together the language of the author’s Chaldean Church and the Arabic of his contemporary culture. This scarce volume, now available in the west, is sure to be of considerable interest to scholars of Syriac and Arabic alike.

This massive work of scholarly erudition is an authoritative Syriac lexicon that is essential for all students of the language. Now available with an English introduction, this monumental lexicographical work is of exceptional utility.

Peyron’s lexicon is the classic Coptic-Latin dictionary of the early twentieth century. It is of special historical importance because of the association of Peyron with Champollion, Napoleon’s epigrapher on his Egyptian voyage. Placed so early in the dawn of Egyptian studies, Peyron sheds light from an eye undimmed by the subsequent decades of scholarship.

Audo’s Syriac dictionary is a reference tool coveted by all students of the Syriac language. As a language tool it represents the Syriac known and used in the nineteenth century in the Middle East. This historic contribution to the understanding of the Syriac language is now available in a Gorgias edition with an English introduction.

Wortabet’s dictionary has a staying power not often found among historical dictionaries. In various forms it is still in wide use today. Going back to the historic original form, Gorgias Press is now offering this volume as part of its Historical Dictionary series.