thesaurus

Meaning

Noun

• A publication, usually in the form of a book, that provides synonyms (and sometimes antonyms) for the words of a given language.
• A dictionary or encyclopedia.
• A hierarchy of subject headings — canonic titles of themes and topics, the titles serving as search keys.

Related

Similar words

• synonymicon

Origin

• 16th century, from Latin thēsaurus, from Ancient Greek θησαυρός ("storehouse, treasure"); its current English usage/meaning was established soon after the publication of Peter Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases in 1852. treasure.