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John Minsheu

1560 – 1627

English linguist

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About John Minsheu

Lived 1560 – 1627 (aged 66–67). John Minsheu was a British lexicographer, linguist, romanist and scholar of English.

John Minsheu (or Minshew) (1560–1627) was an English linguist and lexicographer.

Biography He was born and died in London. Little is known about his life. He published some of the earliest dictionaries and grammars of the Spanish language for speakers of English. His major work was the Ductor in linguas (Guide into tongues), an eleven-language dictionary. With his Ductor in linguas he is also one of the first known inventors of the use of subscription as a method of funding publication of a book.

He also expanded Richard Percivale's Spanish dictionary.

Works Joyful Newes out of the Newe Founde Worlde (1577) Spanish Grammar (1599) Dictionarie in Spanish and English (1599 & 1623), an augmented version of Bibliotheca Hispanica (1591) by Richard Percyvall (1993 reprint: ) Ductor in linguas (The Guide into Tongues) (1617) including Vocabularium Hispanicolatinum et Anglicum copiossissimum (A Most Copious Spanish Dictionarie with Latine and English) Pleasant and Delightfull Dialogues in Spanish and English (1623)

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Important facts

Born
1560, London
Birth century
Died
1627, London

People in John Minsheu's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John Minsheu's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Minsheu?

English linguist

When was John Minsheu born?

John Minsheu was born in 1560 in London.

When did John Minsheu die?

John Minsheu died in 1627 in London.

What was John Minsheu's occupation?

John Minsheu was a lexicographer, linguist, romanist and scholar of English.

What nationality was John Minsheu?

John Minsheu was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Minsheu

· Wikidata: Q6248957

· DBpedia: John Minsheu

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Minsheu. https://biography.guide/john-minsheu/

MLA: "John Minsheu." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-minsheu/.

Chicago: "John Minsheu." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-minsheu/.

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