palaeography

British  

/ ˌpælɪˈɒɡrəfɪ, ˌpælɪəʊˈɡræfɪk /

noun

1. the study of the handwritings of the past, and often the manuscripts as well, so that they may be dated, read, etc, and may serve as historical and literary sources

2. a handwriting of the past

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Other Word Forms

• palaeographer noun
• palaeographic adjective

Example Sentences

A choice of modules includes dragons in western literature and art, the legend of King Arthur, palaeography, Islamic thought, archaeological theory and practice and the depiction of women in the Middle Ages.

From BBC

Therefore, the conjecture that these specific fragments may be forgeries rests alone of the interpretation of palaeography and the texts.”

From The Guardian

In the present state of Hebrew palaeography it is not possible to determine accurately the date of a MS., but it is easy to recognize the country in which it was written.

From Project Gutenberg

New discoveries in palaeography have ruled that error to be out of court.

From Project Gutenberg

Since the deaths of both of those eminent critics, the treasures dug up in Egypt and elsewhere have put back the date of the science of palaeography from the fourth century after the Christian era to at least the third century before, and papyrus has sprung up into unexpected prominence in the ancient and mediaeval history of writing.

From Project Gutenberg