In the Portuguese linguistics of the 16–17th c. lexical issues were discussed not only in dictionaries but also in grammars, treatises and dialogues on language.
Pre-Port-Royal Portuguese linguistic writings help to trace the evolution of some ideas in modern lexicology. 1. Their authors views the word as a language unit, discuss its divisibility into meaningful parts, write about its boundaries, analytical word, about the root, flexional and derivational morphemes, which led to the creation of derivational dictionaries. 2. In writings codifying the language norm Portuguese authors discuss the origins of target lexemes and note lexical variation in the social dimension. By fixing orthography, they pave way to creating orthographic dictionaries. 3. Portuguese linguists write about the origins of lexis, semantics and historical changes, leading to the modern understanding of etymology and creating a prototype of modern dictionary with correct etymologies. 4. In grammars designed for teaching foreign languages one can find the description of discourse particles and their functions in communication.
The development of lexical subjects in the non-lexicological writings led not only to creating dictionaries of various types but also structuring scientific thought, to the growth of lexicology and rise of new disciplines.