A shorte Dictionarie for Yonge Beginners

A Short Dictionary for Young Beginners was first published in 1556 by John Withals. This dictionary was designed for educational purposes, aiming to assist young learners in understanding vocabulary. It achieved significant circulation, indicated by its frequent reprinting, making it a widely used resource of its kind. The development of dictionaries like Withals' contributed to the broader history of lexicography, which saw the emergence of both interlingual (between languages) and English-English glossaries aimed at improving literacy and understanding. The tradition of dictionary making traces back to ancient Greece and Rome, with significant developments occurring throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era.1