incunabula
[ in-kyoo-nab-yuh-luh, ing- ]
/ ˌɪn kyʊˈnæb yə lə, ˌɪŋ- /
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plural noun, singular in·cu·nab·u·lum [in-kyoo-nab-yuh-luhm, ing-]. /ˌɪn kyʊˈnæb yə ləm, ˌɪŋ-/.
extant copies of books produced in the earliest stages (before 1501) of printing from movable type.
the earliest stages or first traces of anything.
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Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
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Origin of incunabula
First recorded in 1815–25; from Latin: “straps holding a baby in a cradle, earliest home, birthplace,” probably equivalent to unattested *incūnā(re) “to place in a cradle” (in- in-2 + unattested -cūnāre, verbal derivative of cūnae “cradle”) + -bula, plural of -bulum suffix of instrument; def. 1 as translation of German Wiegendrucke
OTHER WORDS FROM incunabula
in·cu·nab·u·lar, adjectivepost·in·cu·nab·u·la, adjectiveWords nearby incunabula
incumbency, incumbent, incumbent on, incumber, incunable, incunabula, incur, incurable, incurious, incurred, incurrence
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for incunabula
British Dictionary definitions for incunabula
incunabula
/ (ˌɪnkjʊˈnæbjʊlə) /
pl n singular -lum (-ləm)
any book printed before 1501
the infancy or earliest stages of something; beginnings
Derived forms of incunabula
incunabular, adjectiveWord Origin for incunabula
C19: from Latin, originally: swaddling clothes, hence beginnings, from in- ² + cūnābula cradle
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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