Manuscripts: meaning, definitions and examples
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manuscripts
[ ˈmænjʊskrɪpts ]
written works
Manuscripts are handwritten documents or texts, often serving as the original versions of literary, historical, or religious works. They can encompass a variety of formats and contents, ranging from scrolls to bound volumes, and play a crucial role in the study of history, literature, and linguistics.
Synonyms
documents, scripts, texts, writings
Examples of usage
- The scientist discovered ancient manuscripts in the library.
- She dedicated years to transcribing medieval manuscripts.
- The museum displayed rare manuscripts from the Renaissance period.
Word origin
The word 'manuscript' comes from the Latin word 'manuscriptus', which means 'written by hand'. This term itself is a combination of 'manu', meaning 'hand', and 'scriptus', meaning 'written'. Manuscripts have been an important part of human history since the development of writing, as they represent the earliest forms of recorded knowledge and culture. The transition from manuscripts to printed texts began in the 15th century with the invention of the printing press. Prior to this, manuscripts were painstakingly copied by hand, often by scribes in monastic settings, making them rare and valuable. Over time, manuscripts lost their exclusivity due to the proliferation of printed books, but they remain significant in the fields of scholarship, history, and art, especially for their insights into the cultures and societies of the past.