Glossarium ad Scriptores Mediae et Infimae Graecitatis

work by Cange

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

The Glossarium ad Scriptores Mediae et Infimae Graecitatis was a significant work by Charles du Fresne, seigneur du Cange, a 17th-century French scholar. Published in 1688, this glossary focused on Middle Greek, the language used from the 7th to the 15th centuries. Du Cange's approach was groundbreaking as he aimed to distinguish medieval vocabulary from its classical Greek counterparts, illustrating words with historical documents. This work, along with his glossary for Medieval Latin, demonstrated a historical perspective on language that foreshadowed modern linguistic criticism. These extensive glossaries are considered encyclopedic in scope and remain valuable for their scholarship.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Charles du Fresne, seigneur du Cange
…and Low Latin”) and the Glossarium ad Scriptores Mediae et Infimae Graecitatis (1688; “A Glossary for Writers of Middle and Low Greek”). These works were of major significance because in them he attempted to develop a historical perspective on the two languages; i.e., he tried to distinguish the medieval Latin…
Read More
…and Low Latin”) and the Glossarium ad Scriptores Mediae et Infimae Graecitatis (1688; “A Glossary for Writers of Middle and Low Greek”). These works were of major significance because in them he attempted to develop a historical perspective on the two languages; i.e., he tried to distinguish the medieval Latin…
Read More