bibliopole

American  

[bib-lee-uh-pohl] / ˈbɪb li əˌpoʊl /

Also bibliopolist

noun

1. a bookseller, especially a dealer in rare or used books.

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bibliopole British  

/ ˌbɪblɪˈɒpəlɪst, ˈbɪblɪəʊˌpəʊl /

noun

1. a dealer in books, esp rare or decorative ones

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Other Word Forms

• bibliopolar adjective
• bibliopolic adjective
• bibliopolical adjective
• bibliopolically adverb
• bibliopolism noun
• bibliopolistic adjective
• bibliopoly noun

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

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

My ten minutes passed very rapidly in conversation with these two experts in books, the bibliopole and the bibliothecary.

From Our Hundred Days in Europe by Holmes, Oliver Wendell

Thus, after a search of many weeks, the Western bibliopole succeeded in obtaining a well-thumbed specimen of the precious work.

From The Humbugs of the World An Account of Humbugs, Delusions, Impositions, Quackeries, Deceits and Deceivers Generally, in All Ages by Barnum, P. T. (Phineas Taylor)