Dictionnaires

Dictionnaires are reference works that collect and describe the words of a language. They typically provide definitions, pronunciations, grammatical information, etymologies, and usage notes, along with example sentences. Their primary purpose is to aid understanding and communication, supporting reading, writing, translation, and language learning.

There are multiple types: monolingual dictionaries that define words in the same language; bilingual dictionaries that translate between languages; learner's dictionaries with simplified definitions and guidance on common errors; and specialized dictionaries focusing on domains such as medicine, law, technology, slang, or etymology.

Entry structure usually includes the headword, its part of speech, senses or definitions, phonetic transcription, etymology, usage notes, and example sentences. Many dictionaries also provide cross-references, grammar hints, and abbreviations. Digital dictionaries expand this with audio pronunciations, morphological analysis, search by inflected forms, and integration with corpora and translation tools.

The history of dictionaries spans ancient glossaries and lexica through medieval and early modern lexicography to contemporary online resources. Early works aided standardization and authority; later lexicography favored descriptivism and accessibility. Notable milestones include Samuel Johnson's Dictionary (1755), the Oxford English Dictionary, and modern online dictionaries built on large corpora and open licenses.