Mateo Aimerich

Mateo Aimerich (1715 – 1799) was a philologist born in Bordils, Province of Girona, Spain.

Life

He entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) at eighteen, and later taught philosophy and theology in several Jesuit colleges. He was subsequently rector of Barcelona and Cervera, and chancellor of the University of Gandia. He was in Madrid, supervising the printing of some books, when the decree of the expulsion of the Society from Spain was announced. He moved to Ferrara, Italy where, in exile, he carried out much of his philological work. His only resource was the public library, which his infirmities often prevented him from consulting.

Aimerich died in Ferrara, in 1799.

Works

Besides some works of scholastic philosophy, ascetical works, and discourses, Aimerich wrote:

• Nomina et acta Episcoporum Barcinonencium
• Quinti Moderati Censorini de vitâ et morte linguae Paradoxa philologica, criticis nonnullis dissertationibus opposite, asserta, et probata, of which there were but a few copies printed; the book is consequently very rare.
• a defense of the preceding work;
• Specimen veteris romanae literaturae deperditae vel adhuc latentis;
• Novum Lexicon historicum et criticum antiquae romanae literaturae. This work, which is the sequel to the preceding, was the one which made Aimerich's reputation. He left also an MS., which was a supplement to his dictionary; and a number of Latin discourses.

From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia

Mateo Aimerich, a learned philologist, b. at Bordil, in Spain, 1715; d. at Ferrara, 1799. He entered the Society of Jesus at eighteen, and, having finished his studies, taught philosophy and theology in several colleges of his Order. He was subsequently rector of Barcelona and Cervera, and Chancellor of the University of Gandia. He was at Madrid, supervising the printing of some books, when the decree of the expulsion of the Society from Spain was announced. He went on board ship without a murmur, and thought only of consoling his companions, several of whom were old and infirm. He took up his abode at Ferrara, and it was there, in exile, that he composed the works which have won for him a distinguished place among the philologists and critics of the eighteenth century. What is remarkable about his literary labours was that his only help was the public library, and even that his infirmities often prevented him from consulting. He died, at the age of eighty-four, in sentiments of great piety. Gifted with a fine, judicious mind, he united to his vast erudition the faculty of writing Latin with great eloquence and purity. Besides some works of scholastic philosophy, ascetical works, and discourses, we have from his pen, 1st, "Nomina et acta Episcoporum Barcinonencium"; 2d, "Quinti Moderati Censorini de vitâ et morte linguæ Paradoxa philologica, criticis nonnullis dissertationibus opposite, asserta, et probata", of which there were but a few copies printed; the book is consequently very rare; 3d, a defense of the preceding work; 4th, "Specimen veteris romanæ literaturæ deperditæ vel adhuc latentis;" 5th, "Novum Lexicon historicum et criticum antiquæ romanæ literaturæ." This work, which is the sequel to the preceding, was the one which made Aimerich's reputation. He left also a MS., which was a supplement to his dictionary; and a number of Latin discourses.

Michaud, Biogr. univ.; Guérin, Dictionnaire des dictionnaires.