The first explanatory and etymological dictionary of the Romanian language
The lexicon published in Buda in 1825 is the first modern Romanian dictionary, which includes the translation into three languages (Latin, German and Hungarian) of approximately 10,000 words and terms of the Romanian language.
Lexicon also presents the etymology of words and demonstrates the Latin origin of the Romanian language. In the word to the readers it is shown that « this Lesicon Romanescu-Latinescu-Ungurescu-Nemțescu » was made « during the course of triumphs, in the work of the Scythians and more in the knowledge of the Romanian language, well learned. »
Indeed, the appearance of the dictionary, a representative work of the Transylvanian school, was possible through the effort and effort of several scholars. At the base of the text was the tetralling dictionary of Samuil Micu Klein (1745-1806) started in 1795, who was ready for printing in 1806 at the Typography of the University of Buda. Shortly after teaching the manuscript, the author ceased life. Because in the typography, another tetraleling dictionary, of Vasile Colosi (1779-1814) was received in 1806, Protopop de Săcărâmb (Hunedoara) decided to revise and merge the two manuscripts in order to publish a great dictionary. In 1814, when the colossi died, the text was far from ready. The preparation for the print was carried further from Petru Maior (c. 1756-1821), who was at that time the corrector of the Romanian section of the typography from Buda and by Ioan Corneli (1762-1848), priest and director of the Greek-Catholic school in Oradea. After the withdrawal of Corneli and the death of Petru Maior in 1821, the revision and completion of the work was taken over by Ioan Theodorovici (c. 1780-1845), the parish of the Romanian Church in Pesta, who worked with Dr. Alexandru Theodori. They completed the work on the basis of the spelling principles of Petru Maior, whose work Romanian Orthographia (Romanian orthographia sive Latino-ValachicaBuda, 1819) was reproduced at the beginning of the volume.
The lexicon appeared in the summer of 1825 « with the printing and with the expenses of the typography of the Hungarian university » in Buda. It has in-8 format (23 × 14 cm.) And includes the word to readers (8 p.) And three parts with own numbering (VIII, 103, 771 pages).
A copy of this valuable lexicographic work arrived in 1955 within the Fund of the Library of the Municipality of Bucharest. He belonged to Titu Maiorescu (1840-1917), as mentioned in the note made inside the first cover: « Give me by Mr. Titu Maiorescu in 1915… ”. Unfortunately, the signature was blocked with black ink, so that the name of the person to whom the volume was given is not known.
Illustration: Pag. Title of Lexicon, Buda, 1825
Article written by Dr. Daniela Lupu/Muncipiuluiuluiului Bucuresti Museum
