CTS logo
Hockliffe logo
Fables and Fairy Tales Stories Before 1850 Stories After 1850 Periodicals and Annuals Religious Books, Bibles, Hymns, etc Books of Instruction Nursery Rhymes and Alphabets
Movable and Toy Books; Myths and Heroes Poetry, Verse and Rhymes; Games Games and Pastimes Natural Science Geography and Travel History and Biography Mathematics
Previous Next

Books of Instruction. 0524: Edward Cocker, Cocker's English Dictionary

Author: Cocker, Edward
Title: Cocker's English dictionary, containing, an explanation of the most refined and difficult words and terms in divinity, philosophy, law, physick, mathematicks, navigation, husbandry, military discipline, with other arts and sciences: and the derivation of them from the Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, and other languages. Likewise historical remarks upon the lives and actions of emperors, popes, kings, queens, princes, with a great number of other persons of note, both in the former and latter ages of the World. With brief observations upon the reign of every English monarch from King William the Conqueror to this time. Also a short view of what is considerable in every county in England and Wales. With variety of other memorable matters. A Work very necessary for all Persons who desire to understand the affairs of the world, as well as the language and transactions of their own Country. By Edward Cocker, the late famous practitioner in writing and arithmatick. Published from the author's copy: and in this third edition very much enlarged and altered: by John Hawkins. The like never yet extant
Cat. Number: 0524
Date: 1724
1st Edition: 1704
Pub. Place: London
Publisher: T. Norris, at the Looking-Glass on London-Bridge, and A. Bettesworth, at the Red-Lyon in Pater-noster Row
Price:
Pages: 1 vol., 294pp. (unnumbered)
Size: 17.5 x 10.5 cm
Illustrations: None
Note:

Images of all pages of this book

Page 004 of item 0524

Introductory essay

Edward Cocker (1631-1675) was a noted educationalist, mathematician and caligrapher. He wrote numerous works on all three subjects, and operated at least one school in London in the 1660s and '70s. After Cocker's early death, his friend John Hawkins undertook to bring to the press much of what Cocker had left unpublished. This Dictionary was one of these posthumous publications. It appeared first in 1704, and had a second edition in 1715 before this third - and apparently last - edition of 1724.

The Hockliffe Collection of Cocker's English Dictionary has many pencil crosses in the margins of the text, generally occuring every six or so definitions on the early pages of the book. This is presumably indicative of one scholar's use of the books. It seems most likely that he or she had to learn by heart half a dozen definitions in each session.