paleography

[ pey-lee-og-ruh-feeor, especially British, pal-ee- ]

noun

1. ancient forms of writing, as in documents and inscriptions.
2. the study of ancient writing, including determination of date, decipherment, etc.

Other Words From

• pale·ogra·pher noun
• pa·le·o·graph·ic [pey-lee-, uh, -, graf, -ik, pal-ee-], pale·o·graphi·cal adjective
• pale·o·graphi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of paleography¹

First recorded in 1810–20; paleo- + -graphy

Example Sentences

He edited a railway magazine and worked for the International Wool Secretariat, an industry group, while resuming his education through correspondence courses for a bachelor’s degree and master’s in bibliography and paleography.

From New York Times

Both Dr. Tov and Dr. Segal said that scholars might come to consider the En-Gedi manuscript as a Dead Sea scroll, especially if the early date indicated by paleography is confirmed.

From New York Times

This is a fascinating field, but the limits of paleography are also frustrating.

From Forbes

All this is being verified, not only by textual critics, but by the more recent discoveries in the study of Christian paleography.

From Project Gutenberg

King’s College London said it would abolish its chair in paleography, the study of ancient handwriting — the only such post in Britain.

From New York Times