In 1769, Johan Ihre published Glossarium Suiogothicum in Uppsala, the first comprehensive dictionary of the Swedish language, with definitions in Latin. Ihre demonstrated the origin of words in Old Swedish forms and compared them to cognates in other languages, making his work a pioneering study of Swedish etymology. This dictionary laid the foundation for modern Swedish lexicography.

Ihre's dictionary provided Swedish poets with a scholarly reference for their language, supporting the development of Swedish literature in the eighteenth century. Its etymological approach influenced the study of Swedish poetry and language, and it set a precedent for later Swedish dictionaries. The work also reflects the broader Enlightenment interest in the historical study of language.