A good thesaurus – i.e., a book that lists synonyms and antonyms for other words – is a vital tool for any writer. But did you know that January 18 is Thesaurus Day?
To mark the occasion, we’re looking at the role of Peter Roget – the man who gave his name to Roget’s Thesaurus – in the history of thesauruses. After that, we’ll throw in some tips for using a thesaurus effectively for good measure!
Peter Roget, born January 18, 1779, is the man behind Roget’s Thesaurus. While not the first collection of synonyms in a book, this was the first one to use the word “thesaurus” itself. And it is still in use today, making it very influential.
Roget chose the term “thesaurus” because it is Latin for “treasury” or “horde,” and he wanted his book to be a treasury of language. This “horde” has grown over the years, too: the first edition of Roget’s Thesaurus, published in 1805, contained just 15,000 words, but the most recent (eighth) edition boasts 443,000.
Interestingly, Roget did not start out as a lexicographer; he was originally a doctor. It is only in retirement that he compiled his famous thesaurus. It may even have been part of an attempt to cope with depression, which affected Roget most of his life.
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Whatever his motivations, though, Roget created one of the world’s most popular thesauruses. As such, his birthday was chosen as the date of Thesaurus Day, a day for appreciating the value of a good thesaurus and the work of Roget himself. And, as word lovers ourselves, we’re happy to celebrate it!
So, how do you make the best use of a thesaurus? We have three tips:
Follow these tips and you should be able to use a thesaurus effectively!
A thesaurus is a handy tool for writers. But if you want a little more help varying your vocabulary – as well as making sure you use synonyms correctly – proofreading is the solution! Find out how our experts can help today with a free proofreading trial.
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