palimpsest
n 1: a manuscript (usually written on papyrus or parchment) on
which more than one text has been written with the earlier
writing incompletely erased and still visible
palimpsest nounEtymology: Latin palimpsestus, from Greek palimpsēstos
scraped again, from palin + psēn to rub, scrape; akin to
Sanskrit psāti, babhasti he chews Date: 1825 1. writing
material (as a parchment or tablet) used one or more times after earlier
writing has been erased 2. something having usually diverse layers
or aspects apparent beneath the surface <Canada…is a palimpsest,
an overlay of classes and generations — Margaret Atwood>
palimpsest n. 1 a piece of writing-material or manuscript on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for other writing. 2 a monumental brass turned and re-engraved on the
reverse side. Etymology: L palimpsestus f. Gk palimpsestos f. palin again + psestos rubbed smooth
palimpsest
ˈpælɪmpsest n. 1 a piece of writing-material or manuscript on which
the original writing has been effaced to make room for other writing. 2 a
monumental brass turned and re-engraved on the reverse side. [L palimpsestus
f. Gk palimpsestos f. palin again + psestos rubbed smooth]
Palimpsest
the name given to a parchment manuscript written on the
top of another that has been erased, yet often not so thoroughly that it
cannot be in a measure restored.
Palimpsest \Pal"imp*sest\, n. [L. palimpsestus, Gr. ? scratched
or scraped again, ? a palimpsest; ? again + ? to rub, rub
away: cf. F. palimpseste.]
A parchment which has been written upon twice, the first
writing having been erased to make place for the second.
--Longfellow.
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