octavo

[ ok-tey-voh, -tah- ]

noun

, plural oc·ta·vos

1. a book size of about 6 × 9 inches (16 × 23 centimeters), determined by printing on sheets folded to form 8 leaves or 16 pages. : 8vo, 8°
2. a book of this size.

adjective

1. in octavo.

octavo

/ ɒkˈteɪvəʊ /

noun

1. Also calledeightvo a book size resulting from folding a sheet of paper of a specified size to form eight leaves Often written8vo8°

   demi-octavo

2. a book of this size
3. (formerly) a size of cut paper 8 inches by 5 inches (20.3 cm by 12.7 cm)

Word History and Origins

Origin of octavo¹

First recorded in 1575–85; short for New Latin in octāvō “in an eighth (of a sheet)”

Word History and Origins

Origin of octavo¹

C16: from New Latin phrase in octavo in an eighth (of a whole sheet)

Example Sentences

That there was an octavo edition published at Strasburg in 1536, and that Goldastus followed it.

From Project Gutenberg

Cessare potest anno vicesimo-octavo, et perstare post annum quinquagesimum.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps two or three volumes octavo, would contain all that has been done in this way during the last century.

From Project Gutenberg

They will not understand a man who condenses his thoughts into an octavo.

From Project Gutenberg

It will be an octavo of about six hundred pages, with portraits.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• album
• booklet
• brochure
• copy
• dictionary
• edition
• essay
• fiction
• magazine
• manual
• novel
• pamphlet
• paperback
• publication
• text
• textbook
• tome
• volume
• work
• writing