Maximilien Paul Emile littre was a renowned French lexicographer and philosopher. Born on October 1, 1801, in Paris, Littre dedicated his life to the study of language and the development of dictionaries. He is widely recognized for his monumental work, the Dictionnaire de la Langue Française, which remains one of the most comprehensive French dictionaries to this day.
Littre's dictionary, published in 1863 after a rigorous research process spanning over two decades, offers a meticulous compilation of the French language's vocabulary and definitions. Comprising over 78,000 entries, it includes 32,000 etymologies and over 150,000 citations from a vast range of literary, historical, and scientific sources. Littre's dictionary remains significant not only for its depth and accuracy but also for the critical and analytical approach he adopted in presenting definitions as well as his emphasis on the historical evolution of words.
Aside from his contributions in lexicography, Littre was also a respected philosopher and held the chair of Ancient Philosophy at the prestigious Collège de France. He specialized in the study of Stoicism and Epicureanism, examining their philosophical concepts and their impact on subsequent philosophical schools.
Maximilien Paul Emile Littre's lifelong dedication to language and philosophy has left an indelible mark on the field of lexicography, with his Dictionnaire de la Langue Française serving as a seminal work in French lexicology. His meticulous approach and commitment to scholarship continue to influence language scholars and dictionary compilers to this day.
