demy

American  

[dih-mahy] / dɪˈmaɪ /

noun

• demies
  plural

1. a foundation scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford: so called because such a scholar originally received half the allowance of a fellow.

2. (in England) a size of printing paper, 17.5 × 22.5 inches (44 × 57 centimeters).

3. a size of drawing or writing paper, 15.5 (39 centimeters) or 15 × 20 inches (38 × 51 centimeters) in England, 16 × 21 inches (41 × 53 centimeters) in the U.S.

4. Also called demy octavo.  a size of book, about 5.5 × 8.75 inches (14 × 48 centimeters), untrimmed. demy 8vo

5. Also called demy quarto.  Chiefly British. a size of book, about 8.75 × 11 inches (22 × 28 centimeters), untrimmed. demy 4to

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demy British  

/ dɪˈmaɪ /

noun

1. 1. a size of printing paper, 17 1/ 2 by 22 1/ 2 inches (444.5 × 571.5 mm)

   2. a size of writing paper, 15 1/ 2 by 20 inches (Brit) (393.7 × 508 mm) or 16 by 21 inches (US) (406.4 × 533.4 mm)

2. either one of two book sizes, 8 1/ 2 by 5 1/ 2 inches ( demy octavo ) or (chiefly Brit) 11 3/ 4 by 8 5/ 8 inches ( demy quarto )

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• demies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of demy

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English demi, demy; see demi-

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

demy demies

Third edition, with 82 plates drawn to scale, 412 pp., demy 8vo, cloth, 18s.

From Wrinkles in Electric Lighting by Vincent Stephen

Second edition, with Supplement, with plates, demy 8vo, cloth, 7s. 6d.

From Wrinkles in Electric Lighting by Vincent Stephen

He was educated at Eton and at Magdalen College, Oxford, becoming demy or scholar in 1619, and fellow in 1625.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 8 "Haller, Albrecht" to "Harmonium" by Various

In demy 8vo, cloth gilt and gilt top, with 16 Illustrations and interesting facsimiles in text, 16s. net.

From Garcia the Centenarian And His Times Being a Memoir of Manuel Garcia's Life and Labours for the Advancement of Music and Science by M. (Malcolm) Sterling Mackinlay

English religious and social reformer, was born in Gloucestershire, and educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, of which he was successively demy and fellow.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various

Those on the foundation are the dean, president, master, warden, according to the charter of the College; the fellows, scholars, called demies at Magdalene, and post-masters at Merton; chaplains, bible-clerks, servitors, at Christchurch and Jesus. 

From Rides on Railways by Samuel Sidney

This attempt at a solid fiction is, with their permission, dedicated to the President, Fellows, and demies of St. Mary Magdalen College.

From It Is Never Too Late to Mend by Charles Reade

The name of a scholar at Magdalene College, Oxford, where there are thirty demies or half-fellows, as it were, who, like scholars in other colleges, succeed to fellowships.—Johnson.

From A Collection of College Words and Customs by Benjamin Homer Hall