gazeteer

Noun (1)

gazetteer (plural gazetteers)

1. (archaic, historical) A person who writes for a gazette or newspaper; a journalist; (specifically) a journalist engaged by a government.
   • Mount novv to Gallo-belgicus: Appeare / As deepe as a States-man, as a Gazettier.1611, Ioannes Donne [i.e., John Donne], “[Panegyricke Verse by John Donne]”, in Thomas Coryate [i.e., Thomas Coryat], Coryats Crudities Hastily Gobled Vp in Five Moneths Trauells […], London: […]...
2. (broadly, obsolete) A gazette, a newspaper.
   • The Hoſt look'd ſtedfaſtly at Adams, and after a Minute's ſilence aſked him "if he vvas one of the VVriters of the Gazetteers? for I have heard," ſays he, "they are vvrit by Parſons." "Gazetteers!" anſvvered Adams. "What is that?" "It is a dirty Nevvs-Paper," replied the Hoſt, "vvhich hath been...1742, Henry Fielding, “A Dialogue between Mr. Abraham Adams and His Host, which, by the Disagreement in Their Opinions Seemed to Threaten an Unlucky Catastrope, had It Not been Timely Prevented by...

Noun (2)

gazetteer (plural gazetteers)

1. (transitive) A dictionary or index of geographical locations.
   • The kind Reception the Gazetteer has met vvith in the VVorld, manifeſted by the ſeveral Editions that have been of it, vvithin the compaſs of a fevv Years; and indeed, the Conveniency of a Compendious Undertaking of this kind, have induced us to go on vvith a ſecond Part, comprehending the other...1704, [Laurence Echard, compiler], “The Preface”, in The Gazetteer’s or Newsman’s Interpreter. The Second Part. Being a Geographical Index of All the Empires, Kingdoms, Islands, Provinces...
2. (broadly, transitive) A similar descriptive list (often alphabetical) of information on other subjects.
   • [A]ll the brighter stars of the sky are registered in their true relations one to another, on charts and photographic plates. […] When a higher precision is required, one must consult those gazetteers of the sky known as star catalogues.1897, David P[eck] Todd, “The Stars and the Cosmogony”, in A New Astronomy, New York, N.Y.; Cincinnati, Oh.: American Book Company, →OCLC, page 426

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