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

When paper was altogether made by hand, the usual paper for books was called demy; and a sheet of demy produced sixteen octavo pages of a book.

From Knowledge is Power: A View of the Productive Forces of Modern Society and the Results of Labor, Capital and Skill. by Knight, Charles

In Four Volumes, demy 8vo., cloth, price 7s. 6d. each.

From Our Journey to the Hebrides by Pennell, Elizabeth Robins

Complete in one volume, demy 4to, cloth, 5s.

From Left on the Prairie by Cox, M. B.

Crest, a demy Otter issuing from the wreath sable, crowned with an antique Crown, or, holding betwixt his paws a crescent gules.

From Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromartie, Knight by Willcock, John

With Illustrations and coloured frontispiece, demy 8vo, 3s. 6d.

From A Statistical Inquiry Into the Nature and Treatment of Epilepsy by Bennett, Alexander Hughes

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 Hall, Benjamin Homer

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 Reade, Charles

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 Sidney, Samuel