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• half title
  half title

  noun

  the first printed page of certain books, appearing after the end papers and before the title page and containing only the title of the book.
• half-title
  half-title

  noun

  the short title of a book as printed on the right-hand page preceding the title page

half title

American  

[haf tahyt-l] / ˈhæf ˌtaɪt l /

noun

1. Also called bastard title.  the first printed page of certain books, appearing after the end papers and before the title page and containing only the title of the book.

2. the title of any subdivision of a book when printed on a full page by itself.

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half-title British  

noun

1. the short title of a book as printed on the right-hand page preceding the title page

2. a title on a separate page preceding a section of a book

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Etymology

Origin of half title

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

half title half-title

The schedule for Potomac is still being decided, based on the winner of the second half title.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 1, 2011

Abbreviated, as the half title in a page preceding the full title page of a book.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah

Not only do these grosser defects reduce the value, but it sometimes happens that the mere absence of a half title, or advertising leaves, or even the flyleaves, will make a considerable difference.

From The Building of a Book A Series of Practical Articles Written by Experts in the Various Departments of Book Making and Distributing by Hitchcock, Frederick H.

Small quarto, various bindings, uncut; half title, portrait, title, pp.

From The Bibliography of Walt Whitman by Shay, Frank

“Claire Lenoir,” termed on the half-title as “The Mysterious Case of the Discreet and Scientific Woman Claire Lenoir,” is a story of the possibility of reanimation through love.

From New York Times ● Sep. 5, 2019

A1-A4, a1-a4, and B-I4 in fours, half-title, A1, title, A2.

From A Catalogue of Books in English Later than 1700 (Vol 3 of 3) Forming a portion of the library of Robert Hoe by Various

There is another edition of 1781 with half-title and 96 pages.

From A Catalogue of Books in English Later than 1700 (Vol 3 of 3) Forming a portion of the library of Robert Hoe by Various

First edition in book form.   Originally published in Blackwood's Magazine On the half-title is the inscription, "To my old & much valued friend G. Hamilton Seymour fr the author C. L."

From A Catalogue of Books in English Later than 1700 (Vol 2 of 3) Forming a portion of the library of Robert Hoe by Various

The title-page and text of this copy are similar to the preceding, but it contains a half-title, A1, and no final advertisements, I3 verso and I4 being blank.

From A Catalogue of Books in English Later than 1700 (Vol 3 of 3) Forming a portion of the library of Robert Hoe by Various