Elzevir

Or El·se·vier,

[el-zuh-veer, -ver, -suh-]

noun

1. Louis, c1540–1617, Dutch printer: founder of a printing firm at Leyden (1591?) that was operated by his descendants through the 18th century.

2. a book produced by this printing house.

3. a style of printing type with firm hairlines and stubby serifs.

adjective

1. of or relating to the Elzevir family or the books it published.

2. indicating the type originated by this family.

Other Word Forms

• Elzevirian adjective

Example Sentences

Smuggled out of Italy and published in Leiden in 1638 by Louis Elzevir, this book was an enormous influence on the development of science in Europe in the following decades, even more than the widely translated Dialogue.

Read more on Literature

“I come to the July 1 protests every year, but this time I came in particular because of the extradition bill,” said Elzevir Young, 59.

Read more on Reuters

Somewhat similar to Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Kidnapped,” “Moonfleet” is set in the 18th century and recounts the adventures of young John Trenchard after he teams up with the daring smuggler Elzevir Block.

Read more on Washington Post

None could with him in anecdotes confer; A perfect annal-book, in Elzevir.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Speak of the moderns without contempt, and of the ancients without idolatry; judge them all by their merits, but not by their ages; and if you happen to have an Elzevir classic in your pocket, neither show it nor mention it.

Read more on Project Gutenberg