recto-only
|rec-to-on-ly|
🇺🇸
/ˈrɛktoʊ ˈoʊnli/
🇬🇧
/ˈrɛktəʊ ˈəʊnli/
only on right-hand pages
Etymology
'recto' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'recto', where it ultimately derives from Latin 'rectus' meaning 'right' or 'straight'.
'rectus' in Latin developed into Italian 'recto' (used in printing to denote the right-hand page); this Italian term was borrowed into English as 'recto'. The compound 'recto-only' is a later English formation combining 'recto' + 'only' to specify occurrence solely on recto pages.
Initially it meant 'right' or 'straight' (from Latin 'rectus'), but over time it became specialized to mean 'the right-hand (front) side of a leaf or page'; 'recto-only' now specifically means 'appearing only on the recto pages'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
appearing, printed, or placed only on the recto (right-hand) pages of a book, manuscript, or folio; not on the verso (left-hand) pages.
The edition is recto-only: every folio has text on the recto while the versos remain blank.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/26 22:27