REPRINT OF "GAZOPHYLACIUM" ENCYCLOPAEDIC DICTIONARY PRESENTED

( Editorial: --> 0876 ) ZAGREB, Sept 20 (Hina) - One of the major works of Croatian literature, the reprint of "Gazophylacium" dictionary, was presented two weeks ago in Zagreb. "Gazophylacium" is the first encyclopaedic dictionary of Croatian, compiled by a renown Croatian writer, lexicographer and Paulist Ivan Belostenec. Belostenec worked on the dictionary for six and a half decades, between 1675 and 1740. The dictionary was stored in the Paulist monastery in Lepoglava in the form of a manuscript. It was printed in Zagreb in 1740. The reprint, printed in the form of one of the three original copies of the dictionary which are kept in the safe of the National and University Library in Zagreb, was edited by "Stari Grad" publishing house from Zagreb. The dictionary brings for the first time all three dialects of the Croatian language. Belostenec's dictionary influenced the course of the national revival, academician Josip Voncina said presenting the reprint. The encyclopaedic Latin-Croatian Croatian-Latin dictionary came at time when Europe had only one such dictionary, said Culture Minister Bozo Biskupic. Belostenec's life work remains forever part of Croatian and world culture, bearing witness to excellent contributions of the Croatian nation in the culture of the 17th century, Biskupic added. (hina) rml 201203 MET sep 98