Robert Cawdrey facts for kids
Robert Cawdrey (born around 1538, died after 1604) was an English church leader. He created one of the very first dictionaries for the English language. This famous book was called the Table Alphabeticall and came out in 1604.
Contents
Early Life and Church Work
Robert Cawdrey did not go to a university. Instead, he became a school teacher in a town called Oakham in 1563. A few years later, in 1565, he became a deacon in the church. By 1570, he was a priest. On October 22, 1571, he became the main church leader, or rector, in South Luffenham.
However, Robert Cawdrey had ideas that were similar to a group called the Puritans. These ideas sometimes caused problems with the main Church of England rules.
In 1576, he got into trouble for not reading the church's approved texts during his sermons. Later, in 1578, he performed a marriage without permission. He was briefly suspended from his duties. This suspension only lasted a few months. But in 1586, he faced more trouble for breaking rules again. He had to appear before his bishop, Richard Howland.
Cawdrey had powerful friends, like Lord Burghley, who tried to help him. But in 1588, he lost his job as rector. He then went back to teaching to earn money and support himself.
Creating the First Dictionary
Robert Cawdrey decided to write a helpful book. He worked with his son, Thomas Cawdrey (who lived from 1575 to 1640). Thomas was also a school teacher in London. Together, they created the Table Alphabeticall. This book was published in 1604 when Robert Cawdrey was living in Coventry.
During the 1500s, many new words were being added to the English language. Cawdrey worried that people would get confused by all these new terms. He noticed that wealthy people were using many foreign words and phrases. He wrote that they "forget altogether their mothers language." This meant they were forgetting their own English words. He also said that "far journied gentlemen" learned new words while traveling. Then they would "pouder their talke with over-sea language," meaning they used these foreign words a lot.
Thomas Cawdrey continued to work on making the Table Alphabeticall even better.
Robert Cawdrey also wrote other books. In 1580, he published A Short and Fruitefull Treatise of the Profit of Catechising. He updated this book in 1604. He also released A Treasurie or Store-House of Similes in 1600, and again in 1609.
About A Table Alphabeticall
The full name of his famous dictionary is very long! It was called: A table alphabeticall, conteyning and teaching the true writing, and understanding of hard vsuall English wordes, borrowed from the Hebrew, Greeke, Latine, or French, &c. With the interpretation thereof by plaine English words, gathered for the benefit & helpe of ladies, gentlewomen, or any other unskilfull persons. Whereby they may the more easilie and better vnderstand many hard English wordes, vvhich they shall heare or read in scriptures, sermons, or elswhere, and also be made able to vse the same aptly themselues.
His dictionary included about 2,500 words. He made sure to explain how to use alphabetical order to his readers. This was important because many people back then did not know how to find words in alphabetical order. He wrote: "Nowe if the word, which thou art desirous to finde, begin with (a) then looke in the beginning of this Table, but if with (v) looke towards the end."
Cawdrey dedicated his Table Alphabeticall to five daughters of Lucy Sidney, Lady Harington. These were Sarah, Lady Hastings, Theodosia, Lady Dudley, Elizabeth, Lady Montagu, Frances, Lady Leigh, and Mary, Lady Wingfield.
Family Life
Robert Cawdrey had several sons. His youngest son, Daniel Cawdrey (born around 1588, died 1664), also became a Puritan minister.
