Indiana News

Indiana State’s Library Adds 520-Year-Old Dictionary

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP): The newest addition to Indiana State University's library is a 520-year-old dictionary that includes some unexpected surprises in its pages.
 
The book, called “Vocabularius,'' was published in 1495 and is one of the first known examples of a German-to-Latin dictionary.
 
Each page of the 382-page book recently added to ISU's Cordell Collection was hand-numbered in ink, presumably by its owner.
 
Cordell Collection curator emeritus David Vancil says the tome includes a definition for pancakes fried in blood that provides some social context for the German people of the 15th century. Vancil says, “This tidbit opens a small window on a food eaten by Germans at the time.''
 
Library special collections chair says the newly acquired dictionary is the only copy of the book in the nation.

Related posts

Trader Joe’s Recall

Network Indiana

Soberity Campaign Kicks Off

Kylie Havens

Officials Share Plans for Indiana Dunes State Park Project

dfield