Using Dictionaries & Glossaries in Family History Research
Genealogy has its own language, similar to other disciplines such as law, medicine or real estate. When tracing your family tree it is common to encounter records filled with archaic, obsolete or legal terms, acronyms, and abbreviations that you aren't familiar with. This can make genealogy seem a lot like learning a foreign language to an overwhelmed "newbie." Misinterpreting these terms or applying present-day definitions to documents created in an earlier century can lead your research in the wrong direction. Taking the time to look up the appropriate meaning of a word or interpretation of an abbreviation is an important part of your family history search.
Archaic Words & Phrases
When reading old documents, you'll often find words which are no longer in use, or whose meanings have changed. When you find your ancestor's occupation listed as a pettifogger or his cause of death noted as dropsy, will you know what it means? These words can generally be found defined in specialized dictionaries or glossaries.
Online Specialized Dictionaries for Genealogists
Historical Dictionaries
Documents from the past often mean words from the past. Noah Webster created his first dictionary in 1806, and such historical dictionaries are often filled with terms which have disappeared or whose usage has changed. Look for old editions or historical reprints or standard dictionaries for the meanings and usage of such words. In some cases, modern dictionaries and glossaries have been published which cover these historical terms. One such example is Colonial American English, a Glossary: Words and Phrases Found in Colonial Writing, Now Archaic, Obscure, Obsolete or Whose Meanings Have Changed by Richard M. Lederer, Jr. (Essex, Conn.: Verbatim Book, 1985).
Historical Dictionaries Online
Specialized Slang
Even within a single language, words and usage may vary by locality. Slang dictionaries and dictionaries with a regional approach, such as Wilfred Blevins, Dictionary of the American West (New York: Facts on File, 1993) are an excellent source for the meanings of words used in a specific region or in an uncommon way.
Foreign Language
The necessity of reading and interpreting a foreign language is the stumbling block for most genealogists venturing into a new region of research. While it is always helpful to know the language, you can actually get by with knowledge of some important key words and phrases. Use a good foreign language dictionary, or check out one of these genealogy word lists which provide English meanings for many of the most important foreign words found in genealogical documents.
Bilingual Dictionaries & Translation
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