Introduction

Abstract

Lexicographical heritage, in its broadest sense, comprises all texts that compile lexical units from one or more languages ​​to explain their meaning, whether through definitions, examples, or intra- or interlinguistic equivalences. This implies that, in addition to alphabetical dictionaries—monolingual, bilingual, or multilingual; general, terminological, synonym or related words, etymological, historical, etc.—nomenclatures, conceptual dictionaries, and any lexical-onomasiological lists also form part of lexicographical heritage. Likewise, word lists that are part of the paratexts found in grammars and translations are included.

The preservation of this vast and heterogeneous collection of texts is imperative, because dictionaries—all of them, from the most important to the most humble—are works that preserve not only the lexical heritage, but also the cultural heritage, as they are a testament to ideologies, worldviews, technical and scientific knowledge, as well as names of objects, species, customs and habits of a community at a given historical moment.