Spiers and Surenne's French and English Pronouncing Dictionary: Newly Composed from the French Dictionaries of the French Academy, Laveaux, Boiste ... and from the English Dictionaries of Johnson, Webster, Worcester ... ; Followed by a Complete Vocabulary of the Names of Places and Persons, Mythological and Classical ...

Spiers and Surenne's French and English Pronouncing Dictionary was developed in the mid-19th century to address the growing demand for linguistic precision in transatlantic scholarship and diplomacy. Alexander Spiers, an English scholar residing in Paris, sought to bridge the gap between contemporary French usage and the canonical definitions established by the French Academy, while simultaneously incorporating the emerging standardizations found in major English lexicons like those of Webster and Johnson.

The dictionary was designed as a comprehensive pedagogical tool, aiming to serve students, travelers, and academics by providing a structured approach to pronunciation and usage. Its widespread adoption during the late 1800s in American and European universities solidified its reputation as a standard reference work, noted for its meticulous cross-referencing and the inclusion of specialized appendices for classical and mythological nomenclature.