codicology
|co-di-col-o-gy|
🇺🇸
/ˌkoʊdɪˈkɑːlədʒi/
🇬🇧
/ˌkəʊdɪˈkɒlədʒi/
study of manuscripts as physical objects
Etymology
'codicology' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'codex' (genitive 'codicis'), where 'codex' meant 'book; manuscript volume,' combined with the combining form '-logy' from Greek 'logos' meaning 'study' (via French 'codicologie').
'codex' (Latin) contributed the base 'codic-' which, combined with Greek-derived '-logy,' appeared in French as 'codicologie' in the mid-20th century and eventually became the modern English word 'codicology'.
Initially, it meant 'the study of manuscript books as physical objects,' and this meaning has largely remained the same, though its scope sometimes overlaps with analytical bibliography and book history.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the scholarly study of books—especially manuscript codices—as physical objects, focusing on materials, structure, production, and provenance.
Her research focuses on codicology rather than paleography.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the physical characteristics of a particular manuscript or corpus considered collectively.
The codicology of the manuscript points to a 12th-century origin.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/12 05:00