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Bailey, Nathan or Nathaniel Died 1742.

British lexicographer whose Universal Etymological English Dictionary, first published in 1721, was used as a reference by Samuel Johnson and was the first English dictionary to treat etymology consistently.

Bai·ley

(bālē), Liberty Hyde 1858-1954.

American botanist who transformed the science of horticulture through his teaching and his numerous publications, including the six-volume Standard Cyclopedia of American Horticulture (1914-1917).

bai·ley

(bālē)

n. pl. bai·leys

1. A wall or palisade surrounding the structures protected by a medieval fort or castle, especially the outer wall of a castle.

2. The space enclosed by this wall.

[Middle English bailli, from Old French baille, probably from Latin bacula, pl. of baculum, log, stick; see BACILLUS.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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