MOREL, WILLIAM, a learned printer, was born in the year 1505, at Tilleul, a town of the county of Mortain, in Normandy. Though the son of poor parents, he nevertheless found means to procure education; made rapid progress in the study of the ancient languages; and having gone to Paris, gave lessons in Greek to some young persons, and then became corrector of the press to Jean Loys, better known under the name of Tilletan. In 1544, he publish-
ed a commentary on Cicero's treatise De Finibus, which he dedicated to Spifame, chancellor of the university; in 1548, he assisted Bogard in an edition of Quintilian's Institutions, to which he added notes; the following year he was admitted into the corporation of printers at Paris, and established, near the college of Reims, a printing-house, whence issued several editions of Greek works, esteemed for their correctness; and, in 1552, he was associated with Turnebus as printer of Greek to the king, and appointed his successor in the direction of the royal printing establishment. After this he published several good editions, enriched with notes and various readings derived from the best manuscripts; but he was ill recompensed for his zeal, and died on the 19th of February 1564, leaving his family in absolute want. Besides the commentaries on Cicero's treatise, already mentioned, he published, 1. Notes on the works of Dionysius the Areopagite, Cyprian, Demosthenes, &c. an explanation of the most difficult passages in the oratorical works of Cicero, and a supplement to the Chronicle of Carion; 2. Latin translations of the Opinions of the Fathers on the respect due to Images, the Epistles of Ignatius, and other works; 3. De Gracorum Verborum Anomaliis Commentarius, Paris, 1549, and Lyons, 1560, in 8vo; 4. Commentarius Verborum Latinorum cum Græcis, Gallicisque conjunctorum, Paris, 1558, in 8vo, reprinted under the title of Thesaurus Vocum Omnium Latinarum, ordine alphabetico digestarum; 5. Tabula Compendiosa de Origine, Successione, &c. Veterum Philosophorum, Paris, 1578, in 4to. (A.)