Robert Ainsworth (lexicographer)

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This article is about an English Latin lexicographer. For the British MP, see Bob Ainsworth

Robert Ainsworth (September 1660— 4 April 1743) was an English Latin lexicographer, and author of the well-known compendious Dictionary of the Latin Tongue. He was born at Eccles, near Salford, Lancashire in September 1660. After he had finished his own education, he commenced schoolmaster at Bolton: hence he removed to London; and at Bethnal Green, Hackney, and other suburban villages, continued to keep a school, until he was fortunate enough to realize a competency, some years too before his death. In 1736, after about twenty years' labour, he published his great work, with a dedication to Dr. Mead, and a preface explaining his reasons for undertaking it. Improved editions by Patrick, Ward, Young, and Morell have successively appeared; Ward and Young's (1752) in folio, the others in 4to. Dr. Carey's (1816) is a more recent version, and has been esteemed as one of the best. There are also abridgments by Young and Morell.

This dictionary was undoubtedly a great improvement upon all that had preceded it in England: that of Dr. Adam was a further advance; but a good school dictionary is still wanted, and the works of Facciolati and Scheller, now so accessible to the English scholar through the translations of Bailey and Riddle, present abundant assistance towards the composition of such a book. Ainsworth was author of A Short Treatise on Grammar, and some smaller pieces. He is said to have been a hunter after old coins and other curiosities. He died on the 4th April, 1713, at the age of 77. He was buried at Poplar, and an inscription in Latin verse, written by himself, was placed over his remains and those of his wife.