Cornish had all but died out as a spoken language by the middle of the eighteenth century. However, it experienced a slight resurgence in the nineteenth century, spurred by increased scholarly interest. Published in 1887, this dictionary played a role in preserving Cornwall's linguistic heritage. Compiled by Frederick W. P. Jago (1817–92) and intended as a supplement to existing Cornish word lists and glossaries, it was the first resource to provide Cornish translations for English words and phrases. Jago attempts to provide literary citations for the entries wherever possible, but does not manage to do this throughout, observing that 'life is short, art is long'. Appendices include literal translations of biblical texts such as Genesis and the Ten Commandments. Also by Jago, The Ancient Language, and the Dialect of Cornwall, with an Enlarged Glossary of Cornish Provincial Words (1882) is also reissued in the Cambridge Library Collection.

'This book will be of interest to students of the history of linguistics and more specifically to those studying the history of lexicography or the history of Cornish linguistics … [It] is particularly useful for searching an electronic diachronic corpus of historical Cornish.' Jon Mills, The Linguist List