Edward Phillips' The New World of English Words
Poet involved
What happened
In 1658, Edward Phillips published The New World of English Words, or a General Dictionary in London, the first folio edition of any English dictionary. This work contained interpretations of hard words derived from a wide range of languages and was notable for its comprehensive scope. Phillips, who was the nephew of John Milton, compiled this dictionary to meet the growing demand for a general English lexicon.
Literary impact
Phillips's dictionary provided English poets with a comprehensive reference for their language, supporting the development of a rich and varied poetic vocabulary. Its scope and ambition influenced the lexicographical tradition that would culminate in Johnson's Dictionary. As Milton's nephew, Phillips was directly connected to the great poet, and his work reflects the linguistic concerns of the English literary establishment in the mid-seventeenth century.
Source: Wikipedia
