bibliotaph

American  

[bib-lee-uh-taf, -tahf] / ˈbɪb li əˌtæf, -ˌtɑf /

Or bibliotaphe

noun

1. a person who caches or hoards books.

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Other Word Forms

• bibliotaphic adjective

Etymology

Origin of bibliotaph

1815–25; biblio- + Greek táphos burial; see epitaph

Explanation

A bibliotaph is a book hoarder, a person who has a lot of books but hides them away, not allowing others to read them. In fact, a bibliotaph might not even read the books. You could think of a bibliotaph as a sort of miser, like Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol, but a miser of books instead of money. A bibliotaph might hide their books away to keep them in mint condition. Or one might value the knowledge in the books but not want to share that knowledge. It's possible that a bibliotaph just has so many books that they hide them away in a closet. The word bibliotaph comes from the Greek roots biblio, meaning "book," and taph, meaning "tomb."

Example Sentences

The most genial lover of books who has walked city streets for many a day was a bibliotaph.

From The Bibliotaph and Other People by Vincent, Leon H. (Leon Henry)

The dog-in-the-manger bibliotaph is the worst; he uses his books but little himself, and allows others to use them not at all.

From The Bibliotaph and Other People by Vincent, Leon H. (Leon Henry)

Two interesting types of maniac are known respectively as the bibliotaph and the biblioclast.

From The Bibliotaph and Other People by Vincent, Leon H. (Leon Henry)

On the other hand, a man may be a bibliotaph simply from inability to get at his books.

From The Bibliotaph and Other People by Vincent, Leon H. (Leon Henry)

The late Sir Thomas Phillipps, of Middle Hill, was a remarkable instance of a bibliotaph.

From The Enemies of Books by Blades, William