Oxford Latin Desk Dictionary

by James Morwood (Editor)

This is the first edition of the Oxford Latin Desk Dictionary, offering essential coverage of Latin words and grammar, as well as extra information on Roman history and culture. It takes account of the latest research into Latin, and is designed specifically to fit the needs of today's student. It covers over 46,000 words and phrases, including additions from the writings of Plautus and Terence, and from the study of Silver Latin. Common irregular verb parts are given as headwords for greater clarity, and boxed notes provide help with language usage, and with difficult words and constructions.

There are detailed appendices on historical, mythological, and geographical names, as well as sections on money, weights and measures, dates, and times, poetic meter, and medieval Latin. With a timeline of important dates, and biographies on Roman writers, this edition is packed with interesting and essential information on Roman history and culture.

Also with pronunciation help and a guide to Latin grammar, this compact and affordable dictionary is a necessity for all students and adult-learners of Latin.

Genres: Reference, Language

481 pages, Hardcover

First published July 28, 2005

About the author

James Henry Weldon Morwood was an English classicist and author. He taught at Harrow School, where he was Head of Classics, and at Oxford University, where he was a Fellow of Wadham College, and also Dean. He wrote almost thirty books, ranging from biography to translations and academic studies of Classical literature.
His best-known work is The Oxford Latin Course (1987–92, with Maurice Balme, new ed, 2012), whose popularity in the USA led to the publication of a specifically American edition in 1996. Morwood is credited with helping to ensure the survival - even flourishing - of Classical education into the twenty-first century, both in the UK and the USA.

Reviews

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nicely presented Latin desk dictionary with a gilded spine and decent binding. A desk dictionary is a much better option over a paperback if you're like me and use it nearly every day.

As well as covering words (Latin-English and English-Latin), it goes a step further by covering key dates in the Roman Empire, essential Latin authors, Roman money, geographical names, the pronunciation of classical Latin and more. Even if you have no prior foundation in Latin, this dictionary could serve as a nice primer.

The only gripe I have with it is that the grammar section could be a lot better. It seems silly to me that they published Latin Grammar separately when publishers like Collins merge the two into a handier package. I would have also preferred the Roman numeral guide to have been either at the front or back rather than oddly sandwiched in the middle.

[Nostalgia Reader]

Great dictionary, but lacking in the grammar section.

Get the Oxford Latin Grammar book if you're drowning in declensions.