Article,
First uses from Foxe's Acts and Monuments in the Oxford English Dictionary: an interim case study
International Journal of Lexicography, 2 (1): 15--23 (Mar 20, 1989)
DOI: 10.1093/ijl/2.1.15
Abstract
The nine editions of Foxe's Acts and Monuments from 1563 to 1684 provide numerous first uses for words and senses in the Oxford English Dictionary, a preferred form of citation being '1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1596 etc.)'. Preparation of the New SOED has demonstrated that identically cited sources showing variations in publication and composition dates may after verification represent different 'first use' dates, and archival evidence suggests that many key sources were not read systematically. A search was made of the New OED database for all first uses conforming to the above string, the bibliographical variation and alphabetical distribution of the 198 items were noted, and 121 targeted items were verified. 25 further items with varying composition dates were found by manual methods and similarly analysed. The resulting information adds materially to our knowledge of the bibliographical consistency of the OED.
