Books that Defined Language: A journey through the Supreme Court Library’s rare and historic dictionaries

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Part of Melbourne Rare Book Week, this in-person talk will explore the rich history of dictionaries held in the Supreme Court Library and discover fascinating insights into the evolving world of defining words.

Among its treasures are a legal dictionary dating back to 1575, and a controversial dictionary from 1607. These are some of many dictionaries that offer a glimpse into how terminology was once understood.

The collection was established by Sir Redmond Barry, who was the acting Chief Justice and founder of the Library, and continued by the early librarians.