uncial
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uncial¹
Where it comes from
Attested 1650, from Latin ū̆ncia (“a twelfth part, ounce, inch”) + -al.
adjective more uncial · most uncial
- Of or relating to an ounce, or an inch, especially to letters printed an inch high.
uncial²
- /ˈʌn.si.əl/
Where it comes from
Attested 1712, from Late Latin unciales (“uncials”), unciales litterae (“uncial letters”) (Jerome), plural of uncialis (“pertaining to one twelfth part, ounce, or inch”), from uncia (“one twelfth part, ounce, inch”). The literal meaning is unclear: some references indicate "inch-high letters", but see “Uncial script” in Wikipedia.
adjective
- Of or relating to a majuscule style of writing with unjoined, rounded letters, originally used in the 4th–9th centuries. This, also written in black letter, we found inscribed on a second parchment that was in the coffer, apparently somewhat older in date than that on which was inscribed the mediæval Latin translation of the uncial Greek of which I shall speak presently.
noun uncials
- A style of writing using uncial letters.
- A letter in this style.
- A manuscript in this style.
Translations
Talk about this word "uncial." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/uncial. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. uncial. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/uncial "uncial." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/uncial.Cite this
@misc{uncial_2026,
title = {uncial},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/uncial},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
