historiated

American

[hi-stawr-ee-ey-tid, -stohr-] / hɪˈstɔr iˌeɪ tɪd, -ˈstoʊr- /

adjective

(especially of initial letters on an illuminated manuscript) decorated with animals, flowers, or other designs that have a narrative or symbolic purpose.

historiated British

/ hɪˈstɔːrɪˌeɪtɪd /

adjective

Also: storiated. decorated with flowers or animals

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of historiated

First recorded in 1845–50; from Medieval Latin historiātus “narrated in pictures,” from historiat-, stem of historiāre, derivative of Latin historia “history” + -ed ² ( def. ); see origin at history ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At the request of Queen Claude, he used historiated rather than purely decorative borders.

From New York Times • Jun. 5, 2014

This book will be in the new type with a fresh set of historiated 'bloomers' designed by C.R.

From Mr. Edward Arnold's New and Popular Books, December, 1901 by Arnold, Edward

In most of these late editions only the pages with cuts have borders, and these of the nature of picture frames, as contrasted with the old historiated borders.

From Fine Books by Pollard, Alfred W. (Alfred William)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023