Palimpsest: meaning, definitions and examples

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palimpsest

 

[ หˆpรฆlษชmpหŒsษ›st ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

historical text

A palimpsest is a manuscript or piece of writing material on which the original text has been effaced to make room for later writing. This term is often used in the context of ancient manuscripts where the original writing, although partially erased, can still be detected. The term can also refer metaphorically to something that has been altered but still bears traces of its earlier form. Palimpsests are significant in understanding historical writings as they reveal layers of history and culture. They illustrate how texts can evolve over time and reflect the practices of scribes and scholars.

Synonyms

manuscript, overwriting, scroll

Examples of usage

  • The ancient scrolls were palimpsests, revealing layers of lost knowledge.
  • Archaeologists discovered a palimpsest of early Christian texts beneath the later writings.
  • Scholars studied the palimpsest to uncover the original author's thoughts.
  • The city's buildings serve as a palimpsest, telling the story of its transformation over centuries.

Translations

Translations of the word "palimpsest" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น palimpsesto

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคชเฅˆเคฒเคฟเคฎเฅเคชเฅเคธเฅ‡เคธเฅเคŸ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Palimpsest

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ palimpsest

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะฐะปั–ะผะฟัะตัั‚

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ palimpsest

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒ‘ใƒชใƒณใƒ—ใ‚ปใ‚นใƒˆ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท palimpseste

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ palimpsesto

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท palimpsest

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํŒ”๋ฆผํ”„์„ธ์ŠคํŠธ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ุฎุทูˆุทุฉ ู…ูƒุฑุฑุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ palimpsest

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ palimpsest

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้‡ๅ†™ๆœฌ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ palimpsest

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ palimpsest

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฟะฐะปั–ะผะฟัะตัั‚

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒžแƒแƒšแƒ˜แƒ›แƒžแƒกแƒ”แƒกแƒขแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ palimpsest

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ palimpsesto

Etymology

The word palimpsest is derived from the Latin 'palimpsestus', which comes from the Greek 'palimpsฤ“stos', meaning 'scraped again'. The term was originally used in the context of writing, referring to manuscripts that had been written upon after the original text was erased. The practice of reusing writing materials dates back to ancient times when parchment and papyrus were expensive and scarce. Scribal culture in the medieval period embraced the palimpsest as a practical solution to conserve resources, and this led to the creation of many historical documents that now are valuable sources of information. In the modern era, the term has been expanded to include not only physical texts but also concepts, art, and environments that have layers of meaning, history, and transformation. The study of palimpsests has become an interdisciplinary field, integrating literature, history, and archaeology.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,704 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.