William Owen Pughe

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William Owen Pughe (August 7, 1759 – June 4, 1835) was a Welsh antiquarian and grammarian best known for his Welsh and English Dictionary, published in 1803, but also known for his grammar books and 'Pughisms' (neologisms).^[1]

Pughe was born at Llanfihangel-y-pennant, Merionethshire, but went to live in London in 1776, where he worked as a teacher. In 1783 he joined the Society of Gwyneddigion, and soon began compiling his Welsh-English dictionary. In 1806, he inherited the estates of the Rev. Rice Pughe, of Nantglyn, Denbighshire, a distant relative. After this he enjoyed a private income which meant that he was able to devote his whole time to literary and scholarly pursuits. He returned to Wales to live in 1825.

His son was the scholar Aneurin Owen.