uncial

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uncial

un·cial

also Un·cial  (ŭn′shəl, -sē-əl)
adj.
Of or relating to a style of writing characterized by somewhat rounded capital letters and found especially in Greek and Latin manuscripts of the fourth to the eighth century ad.
n.
1. A style of writing characterized by somewhat rounded capital letters. It provided the model from which most of the capital letters in the modern Latin alphabet are derived.
2. A capital letter written in this style.

[From Late Latin ūnciālēs (litterae), inch-high (letters), uncials, pl. of Latin ūnciālis, inch-high, from ūncia, a twelfth part, ounce, inch; see oi-no- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

uncial

(ˈʌnsɪəl)
adj
1. (Letters of the Alphabet (Foreign)) of, relating to, or written in majuscule letters, as used in Greek and Latin manuscripts of the third to ninth centuries, that resemble modern capitals, but are characterized by much greater curvature and inclination and general inequality of height
2. (Units) pertaining to an inch or an ounce
3. (Mathematics) pertaining to the duodecimal system
n
(Letters of the Alphabet (Foreign)) an uncial letter or manuscript
[C17: from Late Latin unciāles litterae letters an inch long, from Latin unciālis, from uncia one twelfth, inch, ounce1]
ˈuncially adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

un•ci•al

(ˈʌn ʃi əl, -ʃəl)

adj.
1. designating, written in, or pertaining to a form of majuscule writing having a curved or rounded shape and used chiefly in Greek and Latin manuscripts from about the 3rd to the 9th century A.D.
n.
2. an uncial letter.
3. uncial writing.
4. a manuscript written in uncials.
[1640–50; < Late Latin unciālēs (litterae) (Jerome) uncial (letters), pl. of Latin unciālis weighing one twelfth of a libra (see ounce1, -al1); literal sense is unclear]
un′ci•al•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

uncial

a form of large, rounded script found in Latin and Greek manuscripts from the 3rd or 4th century until the 10th century. — uncial, adj.
See also: Writing
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.uncial - a style of orthography characterized by somewhat rounded capital letters; found especially in Greek and Latin manuscripts of the 4th to 8th centuries
script - a particular orthography or writing system
Adj.1.uncial - relating to or written in majuscule letters (which resemble modern capitals)uncial - relating to or written in majuscule letters (which resemble modern capitals); "uncial letters"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

uncial

[ˈʌnsɪəl]
A. ADJuncial
B. Nuncial f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

uncial

adjUnzial-; uncial letterUnzialbuchstabe m
n (= letter)Unzialbuchstabe m; (= script)Unziale f, → Unzialschrift f; (= manuscript)Schriftstück or Dokument ntin Unzialschrift
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
References in classic literature ?
Among the companies in which he reluctantly allowed the investing public to join were the Golden Gate Dock Company, and Recreation Parks Company, the United Water Company, the Uncial Shipbuilding Company, and the Sierra and Salvador Power Company.
KIRILLITSA: The alphabet based on the Greek uncials originally used for writing Old Church Slavonic.
Secondly, in uncials the outer strokes of an M are rounded in such a way as to make the letter resemble CO, (9) and here the M is also followed by an actual O.
Early copies of Ptolemy were written in uncials (effectively, small capitals).
Suitable for beginners and more advanced students, clear step-by-step illustrations lead us into the calligraphic world of capitals, uncials, italics, roman letters, and other styles.
He concludes that the Kentish church specialized in high quality uncials, including luxury volumes.
The latest edition of the definitive register of Greek New Testament manuscripts(1) lists about 5000 manuscripts divided into the conventional, although somewhat arbitrary, categories of papyri, uncials, cursives, and lectionaries.
The only surprise in lining up the evidence of papyri, uncials, minuscules, lectionary, and patristic readings is his failure to list 33, "the queen of the minuscules" (7).