Ah, the Appendix Probi...so many online versions...so much to choose from! (I'm in search of a good paper copy, and in something I can read the commentary on...any suggestions?) It's an amazing work--someone, whose name is lost to us, decided to sit down and document what he (I assume the author was not female?) heard. Tired of constantly correcting the people's speech pattern verbally, this auteur decided to write it all out...and publish it so that people can 'speak proper Latin'. Incredible document...not just for the pure linguistic content, but I think for the social aspect.

--In total, it's almost all single words, not grammatical phrasal units. There are a few 'multi-word' entries, but they deal with modifier formation more than anything. All words are tackled, both content (nouns, verbs, adjectives) and functional (prepositions, adverbs) are in there.

--Socially-speaking, it takes an incredibly anally-retentive and strict person to constantly make such notations. The attention to detail is quite extraordinary. My money is the author was a grammar/school teacher, an accountant (c'mon, they've always been nerdy and detail-oriented, and bit socially awkward), or perhaps just an upper-crust elitist who snubs their nose at the common folk and their vulgar speech.

Great document, that one.

I don't know how good it is, but here is a link to an online encyclopedia of Marcus Valerius Probus...a possible relative/ancestor of the Probi of the Appendix Probi.