Etienne Dolet was born in Orleans, and studied in Paris, Padua and Toulouse, before working for the Lyon printer Sebastian Gryphius from 1534. The present work, Commentariorum linguae latinae (A Commentary on the Latin language) was published in 1536-8. It traced the etymology of every Latin word known to Dolet in 1536, and provided extensive commentary on Latin grammar and rhetoric. 

Dolet dedicated Commentariorum linguae latinae to Francis I, who gave him a ten-year privilege from 1538 to print any works in Latin, Greek, Italian or French, either written by him, or written under his supervision. He published more than 80 titles, including classical literature and works by more modern authors (including himself). His publication of contentious religious texts led to his imprisonment three times on charges of atheism and culminated in his execution at the stake in 1546