bibliopole
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bibliopole
First recorded in 1710–20; from Latin bibliopōla, from Greek bibliopṓlēs ( biblio- biblio- + pōl- (stem of pōleîn “to offer for sale, sell”) + -ēs agentive suffix)
Explanation
A bibliopole is a buyer and seller of used books, especially rare ones. If you’re looking for a hard-to-find old book, find a bibliopole, probably busy at work in a used bookstore. The word bibliopole is from the Greek biblion for "book" and poles for "seller." The meaning is clear, but a bibliopole isn’t just a regular bookseller, it’s someone who sells second-hand or rare books. Looking for a copy of William Blake’s Illustrations of the Book of Job (1825)? Find a bibliopole. And a big stack of cash. Looking for the latest bestseller? Go to any ol’ bookstore and leave the bibliopoles alone. Most bibliopoles are bibliophiles — people who love books.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Now an old London bibliopole is taking a leaf out of their book.
From Economist ● Dec. 17, 2014
"The Snopeses are in the market," grumbled one bibliopole, as agents for wealthy clients pushed prices to new highs.
From Time Magazine Archive
Gabriel Wells, 85, onetime penniless Hungarian immigrant who won fame & fortune as bibliophile and bibliopole; in Manhattan.
From Time Magazine Archive
Another distinguished bibliopole of this locality, or, more correctly, of Great Newport Street, was Thomas Rodd, who died in April, 1849, in his fifty-third year.
From The Book-Hunter in London Historical and Other Studies of Collectors and Collecting by W. (William) Roberts
If I had the poetic vein, I would indite a pendant to Byron's iambics to that enlightened bibliopole.
From Guy Livingstone; or, 'Thorough' by George A. (George Alfred) Lawrence
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