opisthograph

[prettygoodword]

Theme week: O!


opisthograph (uh-PIS-thuh-graf) - n., a manuscript, scroll, or book having writing on both sides.


A technical word not exactly in common usage. Unfortunately, the opposite word, for having writing on one side, is anopisthograph ... not very imaginative. It's the scroll part of this that interests me -- apparently, that was only done when the contents on the other side were deemed no longer of interest, rather than having a reversible scroll (I was having trouble figuring out how that would even work). Adopted around 1620 from Latin opisthographus, Greek opisthógraphos, from the combining form of ópisthen, behind/at the back + graphos, writing.

---L.

Comments

[thistleingrey.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I am confused. "Was done only when" for which eras/locales? I've seen rolls meant to be presentation/display pieces with content on only one side, yes, but I've also seen rolls (England, fourteenth and fifteenth century) that had content on both sides from the get-go. (Also rolls with stuff added later, sure.) Smallest within my limited exposure of a dozen rolls in person is about 20 cm across; largest is more than two of my handspans, so above 42 cm. (More from plates, microfilm, etc., but of course then one relies upon someone else's description.)

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

Meh. A fair cop, as that was hastily researched and written. The reuse that back side was, IIRC, mentioned in a description of papyrus rolls.

---L.

[thistleingrey.livejournal.com]

It's the 1620 part that made me blink re: what'd preceded it, FWIW.