John Ogilvie (lexicographer) - Works

Works

To the Aberdeen Magazine 1831–2, Ogilvie contributed, under the signature ‘Iota,’ ten ‘Imitations of Horace’ in Scottish dialect. In 1836 he worked for Blackie & Son's annotated edition of Thomas Stackhouse's History of the Bible. Messrs. Blackie engaged him in 1838 to revise and enlarge Webster's; he compiled the Imperial Dictionary (published 1847–1850) using Noah Webster's American Dictionary as its basis, expanding it greatly. The result appeared as the Imperial Dictionary, English, Technical, and Scientific, issued in parts from 1847 onwards, and published complete in 1850, and supplement 1855.

In 1863 Ogilvie issued an abridgment of the ‘Dictionary,’ under the title ‘Comprehensive English Dictionary, Explanatory, Pronouncing, and Etymological,’ the pronunciation being supervised by Richard Cull. In 1865 appeared the ‘Students' English Dictionary, Etymological, Pronouncing, and Explanatory,’ in which etymology and definitions received special attention. A feature of all three dictionaries was their engravings, the ‘Imperial’ claiming to be the first after Nathaniel Bailey's to use pictorial illustrations. Ogilvie's last work was a condensation of the ‘Students' Dictionary,’ entitled ‘English Dictionary, Etymological, Pronouncing, and Explanatory, for the use of Schools,’ 1867. At his death he was revising the ‘Imperial Dictionary,’ which was reissued in 1882–3, under the editorship of Charles Annandale.

A facsimile copy of his 17th century book "India and Persia" is being reprinted by the authorities of the Asiatic Society.