A DICTIONARY OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE, IN TWO PARTS, I. GAELIC AND ENGLISH.-II. ENGLISH AND GAELIC. FIRST PART COMPRISING A COMPREHENSIVE VOCABULARY OF GAELIC WORDS, WITH THEIR DIFFERENT SIGNIFICATIONS IN ENGLISH; ΤΟ HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF GORDON, THIS DICTIONARY OF THE GELIC LANGUAGE, IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY HIS OBEDIENT AND HUMBLE SERVANTS, THE COMPILERS. PREFACE. THE Very Reverend DR. BAIRD, Principal of the University of Edinburgh, so distinguished for his unwearied and patriotic exertions for the advancement of education, and the diffusion of knowledge throughout the Highlands and Isles of Scotland, having projected two periodical publications in the Gaelic language; we, the compilers of this work, were induced at his earnest request to undertake the charge of conducting them. We had not been long engaged in our labours, when we found that the want of a Concise and Cheap Dictionary of the Gaelic language proved an almost insuperable obstacle to the progress of education in the Highlands, and a great hinderance to those who were disposed to promote it. This want so long felt, and so much complained of, we undertook to supply; and we have now been enabled to bring our labours to a close. We have certainly had peculiar advantages, for enabling us to present to the public a Dictionary of the Gaelic language, as free from omissions and errors as the great variety of provincial phraseology, and the state of written literature in that language, can reasonably admit of. The admirable translation of the Scriptures, and the publication of the poems of Ossian in the original Gaelic, under the sanction of the Highland Society of London, furnish a rich treasure of genuine Gaelic. In addition to these, we have had the advantage of a Dictionary compiled by Mr. R. A. Armstrong, A. M., which, considering the difficulties the compiler had to contend with, does him great credit. We have also had before us a Celtic Dictionary, published by the Highland Society of Scotland; conducted by the Rev. Dr. John M'Leod, Minister of Dun-, donald, with the assistance of the late Mr. Ewen M'Lachlan of Aberdeen, the late Rev. Dr. Alexander Irvine of Little Dunkeld, and the Rev. Mr. Alexander M'Donald of Crieff; and superintended and corrected in its progress through the press, by the Rev. Dr. M'Kay of Laggan. This great work is such as might be expected from the eminent attainments of the distinguished individuals, to whom its compilation was intrusted. Mr. M'Lachlan of Aberdeen, especially, brought to the undertaking, great talents, profound learning, habits of industry which were almost superhuman, an intimate acquaintance with the Gaelic language, and devoted attachment to the elucidation of its principles. In the midst of his labours, it pleased Divine Providence to remove him from this life; but his memory will always be honoured. No one ever indefatigably or more successfully to the cultivation of Celtic applied more literature. Without arrogating undue merit to ourselves, it may be presumed, that, in consequence of the great advantages which we derived from the labours of our predecessors, and by the application of even ordinary talent and industry to our work, the Dictionary of the Gaelic language, which we now offer to the public, must be the most perfect that has ever been published. • Dr. M'Leod has the sole charge of the Gaelic Messenger, and Dr. Dewar of the Gaelic Sermon. |
