marginalia

[ mahr-juh-ney-lee-uh, -neyl-yuh ]

plural noun

1. marginal notes.

marginalia

/ ˌmɑːdʒɪˈneɪlɪə /

plural noun

1. notes in the margin of a book, manuscript, or letter

Word History and Origins

Origin of marginalia¹

1825–35; < New Latin, noun use of neuter plural of Medieval Latin marginālis marginal

Word History and Origins

Origin of marginalia¹

C19: New Latin, noun (neuter plural) from marginālis marginal

Example Sentences

The racism shows up mostly as marginalia, implied rather than prosecuted.

From New York Times

And because no year is complete without a bunch of Stephen Sondheim marginalia, I’ve added a few bonus tracks, including a snippet of a surprise, in his honor.

From New York Times

At first it appears messy, improvised and oblique — the sculptural equivalent of marginalia.

From Washington Post

The interstitial collage elements play the role of footnotes, or more accurately, the marginalia of a slightly older, wiser reader revisiting a beloved book.

From Los Angeles Times

It would be five more years before “In Search” was published in full and decades before an authoritative text was established from the morass of his marginalia.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• comment
• commentary
• diary
• inscription
• journal
• letter
• memorandum
• message
• missive
• remark
• summary