Matheson Collection > Geiriadur Cymraeg a Saesneg

EDITOR S PREFACE IX
cabulary, preference has been given to such words, however rare, as are found
in those authors that are most studied. In some instances words have been
omitted because they could not satisfactorily be defined without illustrative
quotation. Other omissions have been governed by other considerations,
for which ample justification is pleaded. It is rather on the score of over
liberal inclusion that this work may be most successfully assailed. The purist
cannot but deplore the elevation of certain hybrid forms to dictionary rank
for, it may be, the first time. The only excuse which I have to ofíer is that
these words have become part and parcel of the language, are known and used
by all Welshmen, and appear in literature — in fiction mostly. To the
foreigner their inclusion and definition should prove of great help. And after
all, it is less the business of a dictionary to censor words than to define them.
Definition. — To define the words of a language is one of the chief aims of
a dictionary. For a work such as this to be useful, the definitions must be
accurate, reasonably complete, and simply and clearly expressed. In this
department, possibly, the revision will appear most thorough. The remark-
able progress made by Welsh linguistic science since the issue of the earlier
editions of this work has by now rendered many of the definitions which then
seemed quite established, absolutely untenable. Moreover, the English
language itself has changed so considerably in the meantime, that many of
the definitions would not now be understood in the sense then intended.
.-Vpart from that, old lines have been followed. The definitions have been made
as simple and terse as possible, due regard being shown at the same time for
completeness. The minimum of grammar has been included, and preference
has been given in all cases to the actual meaning of a word, rather than to its
grammatical function. Care has been taken also, for the first time, to dis-
tinguish between the ancient and modern meanings of the same word. Here
again some discretion had to be exercised. It will be noted that the older
meaning is indicated by a dagger (t) following the defining word.
Order of Meanings. — In arranging the order of the meanings, consider-
able difficulty has been felt. It was found impossible to apply one general
rule to each instance. Usually it has been found more convenient to give
the current meaning first, but in some instances the etymological expansion
of the word seemed to shed so significant a light upon its present meaning,
that the historical order has been adopted. But, however much such refine-
ments may appeal to the philologist, they scarcely affect the dictionary as
a work of reference.
Archaic Englisii Equivalents, — Another point must now be noticed.
In a very few instances, the mark t precedes the defining word. It is intended
to indicate that the word to which it is prefixed is to be understood in its
older English sense, as, for instance, ' faint ' for diffygio, and ' conversation '
for ymarweddiad.
Scripture References.— The last feature to which I shall call attention
is the provision of scripture references. The instances given must not be
supposed to be, of necessity, isolated, or even rare. They are merely intended
to show where a significant and accessible instance of the use of a given word
may be found. Comparatively few Bible words are thus distinguished. For
the remainder the student is referred to Pedr Hir's Key and Guide to Welsh,
of whose valuable aid I have availed myself freely during the progress of this
work. I may say that it was as the result of a consultation with Professor
Morris Jones that I decided to include these references.
Acknowledgements. — In conclusion, I have to record my profound obli-
gations for the valuable help freely rendered me by some of the foremost