Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A British philologist and lexicographer: Frederick James Furnivall was a scholar of the English language, known for his foundational work on major historical dictionaries.
   • A key founder of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED): He is credited with being one of the first to propose and vigorously organize the project to create a comprehensive historical dictionary of the English language.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Frederick James Furnivall's dedication to lexicography was instrumental in the early stages of the OED.
  • Many scholars study the life and work of Frederick James Furnivall.

Advanced Usage

• Historical and academic context: The name is used almost exclusively in historical, biographical, or lexicographical contexts to refer to his specific contributions.
  • The editorial methods developed by Frederick James Furnivall influenced later dictionary projects.

Variants and Related Words

• Furnivall (surname): Often used alone in academic writing to refer to him after the full name has been introduced.
  • Furnivall also founded several early English text societies.

Synonyms

• Lexicographer: A compiler or writer of a dictionary.
• Philologist: A scholar of historical linguistics and literary texts.

Related Phrases

• Founder of the OED: A common descriptive phrase associated with his name.
  • He is remembered as a founder of the OED.

Related Idioms

Noun

1. English philologist who first proposed the Oxford English Dictionary (1825-1910)