BLOUNT, THOMAS, a learned English writer of the 17th century, born at Bordesley in Worcestershire. He had not the advantage of an university education; but, by strength of genius and great application, made a considerable progress in literature. Upon the breaking out of the popish plot in the reign of King Charles II. being much alarmed on account of his being a zealous Roman Catholic, he was seized with a palsy; and died in December, 1679, aged 61. He wrote, 1. The Academy of Eloquence, containing a complete English rhetoric. 2. Glossographia, or a dictionary interpreting such hard words, whether Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Italian, &c. as are now used in our refined English tongue, &c. 3. Boscobel; or the History of his Majesty's Escape after the Battle of Worcester. 4. A law dictionary. 5. Animadversions upon Sir Richard Baker's chronicle. 6. Fragmenta Antiquitatis; and other works.