What is a dictionary as we know it today? It is a book that lists the words of a language and gives their meanings, usually in alphabetical order. Often there is also information regarding the pronunciation, the

origin of the words, and how they are used. Strangely enough, it took hundreds of years for even the idea of such a book to develop. The first time the word “dictionary” was used it appeared in its Latin form, dictionarius which means “a collection of words.” This was about the year 1225, and it was the title of a manuscript containing Latin words to be memorized. This dictionaries was used only in the classroom in the teaching of Latin.