It was based on a new reading of classical sources in the light of the advances in lexicography in creating the Oxford English Dictionary.

[2] While Oxford University Press had attempted the creation of a new Latin dictionary as early as 1875, these projects failed.

The OLD was spurred by the submission of a 1924 report by Alexander Souter on the deficiencies of Lewis and Short; he eventually became the dictionary's first editor.

Although the OLD was intended as a replacement for Lewis and Short's dictionary from 1879, its lack of information about Latin writings from after AD 200 has drawn criticism from its users.

[5] Lewis and Short's coverage of late and ecclesiastical Latin (if inconsistent), combined with the fact that this dictionary is freely available online, has meant that it has remained in continuous use.