Editing Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

{{short description|Reference work containing definitions and explanations of phrases, allusions and figures}}
{{Italic title}}
{{refimprove|date=August 2013}}
[[File:Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.jpg|thumb|The 18th edition of the dictionary, published in 2009]]
'''''Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable''''', sometimes referred to simply as '''''Brewer's''''', is a [[reference work]] containing definitions and explanations of many famous [[Figure of speech|phrases]], [[allusion]]s, and figures, whether [[Biography|historical]] or [[Mythology|mythical]].

The "New Edition revised, corrected, and enlarged" from 1895 is now in the [[public domain]], and Web-based versions are available online.

The most recent version is the 20th edition, published in November 2018 by [[Chambers Harrap Publishers]].

==History==
Originally published in 1870 by [[Cassell (publisher)|Cassell, Petter & Galpin]] and written by the Reverend [[E. Cobham Brewer]], it was aimed at the growing number of people who wanted to understand the origins of phrases and historical or literary allusions, but did not have a university education.  The 'phrase' part of the title refers mainly to the explanation of various idioms and proverbs, while the "fable" part might more accurately be labelled "[[folklore]]" and ranges from classical [[mythology]] to relatively recent literature.  On top of this, Brewer added notes on important historical figures and events, and other things which he thought would be of interest, such as [[Roman numerals]]. Brewer's provides information often not included in more traditional dictionaries and encyclopaedias.  A "New Edition revised, corrected, and enlarged" of 1440 pages was published by the author in 1895,<ref>This edition is opened by a reproduction of the Brewer's autographed "Preface to the New and enlarged Edition of 'Phrase and Fable' 1894", which is dated "Autumn 1894".</ref> not long before he died. Since then, it has been continually republished; in revised and updated editions.

===Editions===
* 1st (1870): E. Cobham Brewer
** (Several times reprinted, mostly with no date)
* "New Edition revised, corrected, and enlarged" (1895): E. Cobham Brewer
** (Reprints: 1896, 1897, 1898, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1909, and others with no date)
* 2nd (1953)
* 3rd (1954)
* 4th (1956)
* 5th (1959)
* 6th (1962)
* 7th (1963)
* 8th (1963)
* 9th (1965): John Freeman
* 10th (1968)
* 11th "Centenary Edition" (1970), revised by Ivor H. Evans. {{ISBN|0304935700}}
* 14th (1989)
* 15th (1995): [[Adrian Room]]. {{ISBN|0062701339}}
* 16th "Millenium Edition" (1999) : Adrian Room. {{ISBN|0304345997}} 
* 17th (2005): [[John Ayto]]. {{ISBN|0304357839}}
* 18th (2009): [[Camilla Rockwood]]. {{ISBN|9780550104113}}
* 19th (2012): [[Susie Dent]]. {{ISBN|9780550102454}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/johnson/2012/10/miscellany |title=Mini-review: Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable - Miscellany |publisher=Economist.com |date=2012-10-05 |access-date=2018-07-29}}</ref>
* 20th (2018): [[Susie Dent]]. {{ISBN|9781473676367}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hodder.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781473676367 |title= Susie Dent - Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (20th edition) |access-date=2018-11-25}}</ref>

==''Brewer's Dictionary of Modern Phrase and Fable''==
This retitled and updated version, initially edited by [[Adrian Room]], was first published in 2000 ({{ISBN|978-0304350964}}).  A second edition ({{ISBN|978-0550105646}}), edited by Ian Crofton and John Ayto, was published on 30 November 2010.<ref>[http://www.brewersreference.com/brewers.php publisher's site] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211101740/http://www.brewersreference.com/brewers.php |date=December 11, 2014 }}</ref> While this title is based on the structure of ''Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable'', it contains entries from 1900 onwards and exists alongside its parent volume as a separate work.<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Rockwood
  | first = Camilla
  | title = Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 18th Edition
  | publisher = [[Chambers Harrap Publishers]]
  | year = 2009
  | location = Edinburgh
  | pages = 1488pp
  | url = http://www.brewersreference.com/brewers-books/phrase-and-fable/index.html
  | no-pp = yes
  | isbn = 978-0-550-10411-3
  | access-date = 2009-08-12
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110708092918/http://www.brewersreference.com/brewers-books/phrase-and-fable/index.html
  | archive-date = 2011-07-08
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref>

==Other special editions==

A variety of spin-off editions have been published in the past, some straying quite far from the theme of 'phrase and fable', such as ''Brewer's Dictionary of Cinema'' (1997) and [[William Donaldson]]'s A–Z of 'roguish Britons', ''[[Brewer's Rogues, Villains and Eccentrics]]'' (2002). ''Brewer's Dictionary of London Phrase and Fable'' was published in 2009 and ''[[Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase and Fable]]'' was reissued at the same time.

==See also==
*''[[Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase and Fable]]''
*[[Chambers Harrap Publishers]]
*''[[A Guide to the Scientific Knowledge of Things Familiar]]'' – also by [[Ebenezer Cobham Brewer]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.bartleby.com/81/ Dictionary of Phrase and Fable] (Philadelphia: Henry Altemus Company, 1898) "New Edition, Revised, Corrected and Enlarged": searchable web-format at [[Bartleby.com]]{{dead link|date=April 2023}}
* [https://archive.org/details/brewersdictionar000544mbp ''Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable''] (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1953?) "Revised and Enlarged" edition: page scans at the [[Internet Archive]]

{{Dictionaries of English}}

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[[Category:1870 books]]
[[Category:Reference works in the public domain]]
[[Category:English dictionaries]]