Glossary
The following list defines some of the words used in this web resource. It is not an exhaustive list of all words associated with medieval documents.
| Term |
Definition |
| Cursive |
Handwriting style in which the scribe writes a word fluently, without taking his or her pen off the page between letters |
| Folio |
One leaf of a manuscript volume, with both the front (recto) and back (verso) sides available as writing spaces |
|
| Hand |
Style of handwriting particular to an individual person |
| Illuminated manuscript |
A manuscript decorated with gold, silver or precious metals |
| Inscription |
Something written into a volume or onto a document after the item itself has been completed |
| Law French |
Fossilized form of the medieval French language, used by lawyers in England until the seventeenth century |
| Liturgical |
Pertaining to religious services |
| Matrix |
Wooden or metal device with a raised pattern, used to create a seal impression when pressed into warm wax |
| Miniature |
An illustration within a text, presented on its own and not part of a decorative initial |
| Minim |
Simple vertical stroke used singly to form the lower case letter 'i', or in combination with other minims to form lower case 'm', 'n' or 'u' |
| Notary |
In England and Wales: a specialist lawyer dealing in Roman and ecclesiastical law |
| Parchment |
Writing surface made by treating and preparing animal hide, usually made from sheep or goat skin |
| Rubricated |
Highlighted in red ink |
| Scribe |
The person who copied a text |
| Script |
A general handwriting style chosen and used by scribes as appropriate to the type of document in question |
| Seal |
Authentication of a deed; an impression in wax attached to or stuck onto a deed |
| Tilde |
Abbreviation mark standing for missed-out letters in a word; a horizontal mark above the area of the word in which the missed-out letters would have been |
| Vellum |
Writing surface made by treating and preparing a superior-quality animal hide, often made from the skin of young lambs or kids |
| Witness |
A person named in a deed or document (and sometimes signing it), who was there when the document was made and can verify its authenticity |
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