GLOSS, GLOSSOGRAPHER, GLOSSARY, GLOSSATOR. The Greek word γλώσσα, meaning originally a tongue, hence a language or dialect, gradually came to denote especially any obsolete, foreign, provincial, technical, or otherwise peculiar word or use of a word (see Arist., Ehet. iii. 3, 2); and the making of collections and explanations of such γλώσσαι was at a comparatively early date a well-recognized form of literary activity. Even in the 5th century, among the many writings of Democritus of Abdera was included a treatise entitled Περί Όμηρου η opθoeπciης κdi γλωσσεωr. It was not, however, until the Alexandrian period that the γλωσσογράφοι became very numerous. Of many of these it is probable that even the names have perished; but in the writings of Athenaeus alone (c. 250 a.d.) allusions are to be found to no fewer than thirty-five. Among the earliest may be mentioned Philetas of Cos (d. c. 290 b.c. ),the elegiac poet, to whom Aristarchus dedicated the treatise πpoςΦιλητaw, he was the compiler of a lexicographical work, arranged probably according to subjects, and entitled "Ατακτα or Γλώσσαι (sometimes άτακτοι γλώσσαι). Next came his disciple Zenodotus of Ephesus (c. 280 b.c. ), one of the earliest of the Homeric critics and the compiler of ΡλωσσαιΌμηρικαί; Zenodotus in turn was succeeded by his greater pupil Aristophanes of Byzantium (c. 200 b.c.), whose great compilation 7r∈pι λeξeωv (still partially preserved in that of Pollux), is known to have included Αττικαι λiξeις, Aaκωvικdi γλωσσaι, and the like. From the school of Aristophanes issued more than one glossographer of name,—Diodorus, Artemidorus (γλώσσαι, and a collection of λ∈⅛eιs ...