glossary

[glos-uh-ree, glaw-suh-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR glossary ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural glos·sa·ries.

a list of terms in a special subject, field, or area of usage, with accompanying definitions.

such a list at the back of a book, explaining or defining difficult or unusual words and expressions used in the text.

Origin of glossary

1350–1400; Middle English glossarye < Latin glōssarium difficult word requiring explanation < Greek glōssárion, diminutive of glôssa tongue, language; later taken as a collection of such words, by construing suffix as Latin -ārium -ary; cf. gloss²

Related formsglos·sar·i·al

[glo-sair-ee-uh l, glaw-] /glɒˈsɛər i əl, glɔ-/, adjectiveglos·sar·i·al·ly, adverbglos·sa·rist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for glossary

vocabulary, dictionary, lexicon

Examples from the Web for glossary

Contemporary Examples of glossary

A glossary of what all those strange phrases in classic Christmas songs really mean.
The Most Confusing Christmas Music Lyrics Explained (VIDEO)
Kevin Fallon
December 24, 2014
Plus, read an account of an escape from Scientology's Sea Org and a Scientology glossary.
In Tom Cruise Divorce, Scientology Loses Fashion Icons
Rebecca Dana
July 6, 2012
We delve into Martin's novels and beyond to define to offer you this glossary.
Game of Thrones for Dummies
Jace Lacob
April 13, 2011
Don't be a " fugazi"—The Daily Beast has a glossary of key terms.
The Real Jersey Dictionary
Jaimie Etkin
August 2, 2010
The Daily Beast has assembled a glossary to guide you through the upcoming debate over her nomination.
The Secret Code Words of the Sotomayor Confirmation Battle
Ben Crair
May 28, 2009

Historical Examples of glossary

The orthography of his glossary differs considerably from the orthography of his text.
Beowulf
Unknown
It is given in the Glossary as one of the old names for the moon.
Storyology
Benjamin Taylor
These shields are figured in the Glossary of Heraldry, pp. 285, 286.
Notes and Queries, Number 189, June 11, 1853
Various
The work concludes with notes, a glossary of Yankee terms, and a copious index.
The Arena
Various
Instead, the Index and Glossary are linked directly to each word.
The Earliest Arithmetics in English
Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for glossary

glossary

noun plural -ries

an alphabetical list of terms peculiar to a field of knowledge with definitions or explanationsSometimes called: gloss

Derived Formsglossarial (ɡlɒˈsɛərɪəl), adjectiveglossarially, adverbglossarist, noun

Word Origin for glossary

C14: from Late Latin glossārium; see gloss ²

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for glossary

late 14c., from Latin glossarium "collection of glosses," from Greek glossarion, diminutive of glossa "obsolete or foreign word" (see gloss (n.2)).