PROENÇA, Antem de (Antão, Antero Pr., A. de Provenza). 1624/25 — Ramnad 1666. Father. S.J. Portuguese Missionary, a Pioneer of Tamil Lexicography. Worked in Madurai, in South India. Also knew Sanskrit.

Publications: Vocabulario Tamulico com a significaçam portugueza. Ambalacat 1679; Antão de Proença’s Tamil–Portuguese Dictionary A.D. 1679. Prepared for publication by Xavier S. Thani Nayagan. Kuala Lumpur 1966 (facsimile, 16,546 entries in the order of Tamil alphabets).

Sources: The dictionary is often mentioned, but no details about its compiler are known.