description Matthias Lexer Overview
Matthias Lexer was a 19th-century Germanist and lexicographer best known for his comprehensive work on Middle High German language and literature. His most significant contribution is the Mittelhochdeutsches Handwörterbuch, a three-volume dictionary completed in 1878 that remains a standard reference work for scholars of medieval German. Lexer also edited important Middle High German texts, including the works of Hartmann von Aue.
help Matthias Lexer FAQ
What is Matthias Lexer best known for?
Matthias Lexer was a 19th-century Germanist and lexicographer best known for the Mittelhochdeutsches Handwörterbuch. His dictionary is a major reference for Middle High German language and literature.
How large is Lexer's Mittelhochdeutsches Handwörterbuch?
The work is a three-volume dictionary. Lexer completed it in 1878, making it one of the most substantial historical dictionaries of Middle High German.
Does Matthias Lexer's dictionary cover modern German?
Its primary subject is Middle High German, the historical language of medieval German texts, rather than everyday modern German. The dictionary is therefore especially useful for reading and interpreting medieval literature.
Why is Lexer important to medieval German studies?
His three-volume dictionary gives scholars a systematic way to interpret Middle High German vocabulary and literary usage. Completed in 1878, it remains a foundational reference for the language of medieval German sources.
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