Diefenbach, LORENZ

Diefenbach, LORENZ, a great philologist, was born at Ostheim, in the grand-duchy of Hesse, 29th July 1806, studied theology and philosophy at Giessen, travelled much, and was twelve years pastor and librarian at Solms-Laubach. In 1848 he settled at Frankfort-on-Main, where he was second city librarian 1865–76. He died at Darmstadt, 28th March 1883. His literary industry was enormous, embracing poetry and romances, as well as those more ponderous works by which his name will live. His greatest books—monuments of sagacity and learning—are Celtica (3 vols. 1839–40); Vergleichendes Wörterbuch der Gotischen Sprache (2 vols. 1846–51); Glossarium Latino-Germanicum medice et infime ætatis, a supplement to Ducange's well-known Glossary (1857); Origines Europæe; Hoch- und Niederdeutsches Wörterbuch (with Wülcker, 2 vols. 1874–85).