AN UNIVERSAL ETYMOLOGICAL ENGLISH DICTIONARY; Comprehending the Derivations of the Generality of Words in the English Language either Ancient of Modern, from the Ancient British, Saxon, Danish, Norman, and Modern French, Teutonick, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, as also from the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew Languages, each in the proper Characters. And Also a brief and clear Explication of all difficult Words, derived from any of the aforesaid Languages.

An early printing with considerable improvements. A copy with very pleasing provenance, with the ownership plates of Colonel Henry Lee and of his grandson, Henry Lee Shattuck. Thick 8vo, contemporary English calf, the spine panel once with gilt rules, now without decoration or lettering. Unpaginated. A very good copy, the text-block quite well preserved with some normal age mellowing, the binding in good order but for some rubbing overall and some wear to the spine panel. Decorations and lettering to the spine panel are no longer present.

Edizione: scarce edition with fine lee family provenance. "bailey's english dictionaries gave a new prominence to etymology and to lexical comprehensiveness, including dialect terms, scientific terms, common words, and even vulgar ones" (odnb). the dictionary was first published in 1721 and remained "the most popular and representative dictionary of the 18th century" (starnes & noyes). <br> the lee family was engaged in early mercantile capitalism in america and were important figures in its development, but the families also showed remarkable powers of adaptation to successive forms of capitalism, mercantile, industrial, and financial; and, as opportunity served, they were to do more than their share in promoting the cultural welfare of america.<br> the lees exported and imported and wholesaled their goods in america. they had ships at sea and were active in the calcutta trade and the east indian affairs. <br> the provenance is enhanced by the fact that henry lee shattuck, grandson of henry lee was intimately involved in the publication books on the family and the commercial and social history of boston and vicinity.<br>