octavo
Americannoun
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octavos
plural
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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°
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a book of this size.
adjective
noun
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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
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a book of this size
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(formerly) a size of cut paper 8 inches by 5 inches (20.3 cm by 12.7 cm)
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
See Examples For:
“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 ● Oct. 8, 2016
They would publish two octavo volumes at a time, each about 200 pages long.
From Slate ● Mar. 16, 2016
A collector acquires a clothbound octavo volume bearing the title "Holy Writ."
From Time Magazine Archive
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 "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
In 1788, he wrote his life, which was published in an octavo volume, and was patronized by a long list of nobility.
From Curiosities of Human Nature by Anonymous
Among the new books in England is one entitled "Modern State Trials" by William C. Townsend, in two octavos.
From The International Magazine, Volume 2, No. 3, February, 1851 by Various
A few family portraits, and well-filled bookcases of vellum-bound octavos, quartos and folios.
From Peak's Island A Romance of Buccaneer Days by Anna W. Ford Piper
This important work was advertised, we believe, before the death of Mr. Wheaton, to be published in two octavos, by the Appletons, but it has not yet been printed.
From The International Magazine, Volume 2, No. 3, February, 1851 by Various
Nineteen-twentieths of the books in circulation are octavos and smaller volumes.
From The Private Library What We Do Know, What We Don't Know, What We Ought to Know About Our Books by Arthur Lee Humphreys
I work night and day, I pile up volume after volume, two and three octavos in a year.
From The Immortal Or, One Of The "Forty." (L'immortel) - 1877 by A. W. (Arthur Woollgar) Verrall
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