WONDROUS WORDS: Incunabula
This week’s word comes from the first in the Rare Book Murder series, The Dirty Book Murder. And it’s a lovely “book word”.
“There were thirty more books in the two boxes, all related to travel, adventure, or sporting activities such as hunting and fishing. I didn’t expect to find any incunabula, but these beautifully bound editions covered a period from the mid-eighteenth century to the early nineteenth that was in a price zone I could afford.”
incunabula: books produced before 1501, in the earliest stages of printing from movable type.
Incunabula (pronounced in-kyoo-nab-yuh-la) is plural; the singular, of course, is incunabulum. The word originated about 1815-25 and is derived from the Latin: straps holding a baby in a cradle, probably equivalent to *incūnā (re) to place in a cradle + -bula, plural of -bulum
Do you have any other “book words” to share?
Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where you can share new words that you’ve encountered or spotlight words you love. It’s hosted by Kathy at Bermuda Onion. Hop on over and see what wondrous words other bloggers have discovered this week.
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Wouldn’t it be grand to find a box of books that included incunabula? I just seem to find trashy romance paperbacks!
Wow – that has to be one of the oldest words I’ve ever encountered. I like the history associated with it. Good find!
I hadn’t thought of it that way, Margot, but you’re absolutely right!
What a fascinating word and etymology! Thanks for the thorough post.
I always love to know where words originated, Julia. Thanks for sharing my interest!
Those books must have been really hard to read, interesting word.
I had thought the same thing, Mary Ann, but it’s hard to tell even from enlargements because it’s a foreign (and old) language. 🙂
Cool! I love hard unusual words and derivations. Yesterday I was writing up a book for my blog and realized that it was a story about a quest as well as a BIG QUESTION. Sure enough, I got out my Webster’s Third World Dictionary and both words come from the same Latin root “quaerere” meaning to seek, ask, inquire.
Judy, I often think I enjoy the background of words at least as much as, if not more than, the words themselves.
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for the beautifully presented post to describe this word.
I have actually come across this word before, when I had to look it up in my own reading. However you reminding me of it, also made me check out the book you mention as the source and I have now discovered a great new series to add to my list.
Any book, about books, can’t be bad and the author has led such an interesting life, which included becoming a bookseller himself. Thanks for the recommendation 🙂
Yvonne
You’re quite welcome, Yvonne. Thanks for stopping by Exurbanis.
I’m always amazed when I discover a word with such a narrow meaning. What a great find!