Émile Littré

Émile Maximilien Paul Littré (1 February 1801 – 2 June 1881) was a French lexicographer, Freemason, and philosopher, best known for his Dictionnaire de la langue française, commonly called le Littré. Born in Paris, Littré initially pursued medicine but abandoned his degree upon his father's death to support his family by teaching. His intellectual journey led him to master multiple languages and delve into classical and Sanskrit literature, philology, and medicine. He became a significant figure in the French intellectual scene, contributing to journals like Le National and Revue des deux mondes. His life was profoundly shaped by the philosophy of Auguste Comte, whose positivist ideas he embraced and popularized, though he later developed his own distinct views, particularly rejecting Comte's "religion of humanity." Littré's most monumental achievement was his Dictionnaire de la langue française, a comprehensive work on the French language that spanned nearly three decades of dedicated effort. He also engaged in political life, serving as a senator for life during the Third Republic, and became a respected member of the Académie française. Despite his philosophical leanings, he converted to Roman Catholicism on his deathbed.