uncial

[ uhn-shee-uhl, -shuhl ]
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adjective
  1. designating, written in, or pertaining to a form of majuscule writing having a curved or rounded shape and used chiefly in Greek and Latin manuscripts from about the 3rd to the 9th century a.d.

noun
  1. an uncial letter.

  2. uncial writing.

  1. a manuscript written in uncials.

Origin of uncial

1
1640–50; <Late Latin unciālēs (litterae) (Jerome) uncial (letters), plural of Latin unciālis weighing one twelfth of a libra (see uncia, -al1); literal sense is unclear

Other words from uncial

  • un·ci·al·ly, adverb

Words Nearby uncial

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How to use uncial in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for uncial

uncial

/ (ˈʌnsɪəl) /


adjective
  1. of, relating to, or written in majuscule letters, as used in Greek and Latin manuscripts of the third to ninth centuries, that resemble modern capitals, but are characterized by much greater curvature and inclination and general inequality of height

  2. pertaining to an inch or an ounce

  1. pertaining to the duodecimal system

noun
  1. an uncial letter or manuscript

Origin of uncial

1
C17: from Late Latin unciāles litterae letters an inch long, from Latin unciālis, from uncia one twelfth, inch, ounce 1

Derived forms of uncial

  • uncially, adverb

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