octavo
Americannoun
plural
octavos-
a book size of about 6 × 9 inches (16 × 23 centimeters), determined by printing on sheets folded to form 8 leaves or 16 pages. 8vo, 8°
-
a book of this size.
adjective
noun
-
Often written: 8vo. 8°. Also called: eightvo. a book size resulting from folding a sheet of paper of a specified size to form eight leaves
demi-octavo
-
a book of this size
-
(formerly) a size of cut paper 8 inches by 5 inches (20.3 cm by 12.7 cm)
Etymology
Origin of octavo
First recorded in 1575–85; short for New Latin in octāvō “in an eighth (of a sheet)”
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.
However, demand was fully re-established in the decade 1600-1609, and not just for the new more complex commentaries such as that of Clavius, published in fat quartos, but also for cheap octavo editions.
From Literature
“Who, indeed, but a woman,” wrote one reviewer, “could have ventured, with the smallest prospect of success, to fill three octavo volumes with the history of a woman’s heart?”
From The Guardian
These books were produced in a handy, pocket-sized octavo format that is still a standard today.
From New York Times
The Hollywood Reporter cover isn’t about getting together an octavo of actresses for a girl talk.
From Salon
Of the octavo de finals, this one is the biggest mismatch on paper.
From New York Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
