A dictionary has finally been completed after more than a century of accumulating entries.

The 17-volume dictionary of medieval Latin, launched in 1913, has reached its final definition, “zythum”, a type of fermented malt drink.

The editor, Richard Ashdowne, from Oxford University’s classics faculty, said such a laborious, long-term project would never be initiated now.

“Some people really did doubt we would ever reach the end,” said Dr Ashdowne.

The project began when Oxford historian Robert Whitwell wrote a letter to The Times calling for volunteers to help with researching this dictionary. More.

See: BBC

Subscribe to the translation news daily digest here. See more translation news.