Glossary
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Amanuensis (n.)
A person who copies at the behest of another. In the seventeenth century this was usually a servant skilled in the art of writing retained as a personal secretary.
Bespoke (adj.)
A word used to describe goods that are made in response to an order for purchase. It has the opposite meaning of "ready-made." Examples of modern-day bespoke businesses include wedding cakes and custom men's shirts.
Codex (n.)
The technical term for what most people refer to as a "book" or "pamphlet." It is made of uniformly-sized pieces of paper that are folded, then sewn along only one of the four edges. Contrast with a scroll, which is a very long piece of paper (or several pieces sewn together) that is rolled up for storage. A codex can contain printed or manuscript text; it can also be blank.
Folio (n.)
In the context of this manuscript, a leaf of paper. Its front side is usually referred to as the "recto"; its back side is usually referred to as the "verso."
Manuscript (n. or adj.)
A document whose text has been hand-written.
Miscellany (n.)
A collection of poems, stories, essays or other literary works; these works are not necessarily related in any way other than proximty within a bound volume. It was a manuscript genre common during the medieval and early modern periods.
Palaeography (n.)
The study of older styles of handwriting.
Quire (n.)
A grouping of leaves of paper that are folded and then sewn together along the fold. Several quires might be joined together within a rigid housing to form a codex (i.e., book).
Recto (adj.)
The front of a leaf (folio) of paper. In an open book, it is the page visible on the right.
Sizing (n.)
A substance added to pulp in the process of making paper in order to stiffen it.
Spine (n.)
The rigid edge of a codex, formed by stitches and glue binding the pages together. On a modern book, the title usually appears on the spine; it is the thin surface that faces out when shelved.
Vellum (n. or adj.)
Refers to the skin of an animal that has been prepared for writing. This type of thin surface was used for writing before the invention of paper. Its use persisted as a covering for bound books.
Verso (adj.)
The back of a leaf (folio) of paper. In an open book, it is the page visible on the left.