uncial
pronunciation
How to pronounce uncial in British English:
UK ['ʌnsɪəl]
How to pronounce uncial in American English:
US ['ʌnʃɪrl]
-
- Noun:
- a style of orthography characterized by somewhat rounded capital letters; found especially in Greek and Latin manuscripts of the 4th to 8th centuries
-
- Adjective:
- relating to or written in majuscule letters (which resemble modern capitals)
Word Origin
- uncial (adj.)
- 1640s, "pertaining to an ounce," from Latin uncialis "of an inch, of an ounce," from uncia "a twelfth part" (see inch (n.1)). In reference to letters, it is attested from 1712, from Late Latin litterae unciales (Jerome), probably meaning "letters an inch high," from Latin uncialis "of an inch, inch-high." As a noun, "an uncial letter," from 1775.
Example
- 1. A small cursive script developed from uncial .
- 2. A large letter , either capital or uncial , used in writing or printing .
- 3. A small , cursive script developed from uncial between the seventh and ninth centuries and used in medieval manuscripts .