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paraph

[par-uh f, puh-raf]
noun
  1. a flourish made after a signature, as in a document, originally as a precaution against forgery.
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Origin of paraph

1350–1400; Middle English paraf < Italian parafo or Middle French paraphe paragraph mark (by syncope; see paragraph)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for paraph

Historical Examples

  • "He has now added this crown and this paraph to his coat-of-arms," said Miss Holland.

    Henry VIII And His Court

    Louise Muhlbach

  • Paraph, par′af, n. a mark or flourish under one's signature.

British Dictionary definitions for paraph

paraph

noun
  1. a flourish after a signature, originally to prevent forgery
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Word Origin

C14: via French from Medieval Latin paraphus, variant of paragraphus paragraph
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