A Concise Dictionary of Middle English Value Guide

This 1888 first edition, compiled by renowned scholars Anthony Lawson Mayhew and Walter William Skeat, remains a foundational reference for the evolution of the English language. It is highly collectible for its precise etymological mapping of the transition from Old English to early Modern English.

What affects the value of A Concise Dictionary of Middle English?

• Condition of the original 1888 binding and the presence of any foxing on the paper pages.
• Provenance, such as bookplates or signatures from notable linguistic scholars or universities.
• Completeness of the text, including the preface and any supplemental etymological charts.
• Market demand for Victorian-era philological references and Oxford University Press publications.

How to Identify A Concise Dictionary of Middle English?

• Verify the 1888 publication date on the title page printed at the Clarendon Press, Oxford.
• Check for the dual authorship of A.L. Mayhew and Walter W. Skeat prominently displayed.
• Look for the original dark cloth or cardboard binding typical of late 19th-century academic texts.
• Confirm the focus on the 12th through late 15th-century lexicon within the dictionary entries.

History of A Concise Dictionary of Middle English

This dictionary, compiled by Anthony Lawson Mayhew and Walter William Skeat, is a foundational text for students and scholars of Middle English. It provides definitions and etymologies for words used during the period of English history from roughly the 12th to the late 15th centuries, bridging the gap between Old English and early Modern English. Its continued relevance highlights the enduring academic interest in the evolution of the English language.