Peter Levens

English lexicographer

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June 30, 2026

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Peter Levens was an English lexicographer known for compiling the first rhyming dictionary in 1570, titled Manipulus Vocabulorum. A Dictionary of English and Latin Words, Set Forth in Such Order, as None Heretofore Hath Been. Lexicography is the practice of compiling, editing, and writing dictionaries, distinct from lexicology, which studies words in a language. The history of lexicography dates back to ancient Sumerians, with English lexicography developing significantly in the 18th century, notably with Samuel Johnson's dictionary.12

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From Classical times to 1604
The first rhyming dictionary, by Peter Levens, was produced in 1570—Manipulus Vocabulorum. A Dictionary of English and Latin Words, Set Forth in Such Order, as None Heretofore Hath Been.
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The first rhyming dictionary, by Peter Levens, was produced in 1570—Manipulus Vocabulorum. A Dictionary of English and Latin Words, Set Forth in Such Order, as None Heretofore Hath Been.
Read More