This week’s theme
Words related to books

This week’s words
bibliophagist
prosateur
bibliopole
peritext
bibliophobe

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(PER-uh-tekst)

MEANING:

noun: The material surrounding the main text of a book, such as covers, preface, bibliography, colophon, etc.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Greek peri- (around) + text, from Latin texere (to weave). Ultimately from the Indo-European root teks- (to weave), which also gave us context, texture, tissue, tectonic, architect, technology, subtle, and subtile. Earliest documented use: 1977.

NOTES:

The word is primarily used with books, but can be applied to other creative works such as films, computer games, etc.

USAGE:

“An effusively adulatory introduction from feminist scholar Bechdel and a postscript from Fawkes bookend the illustrated portion and offer insights into Brontë’s value as an author and biographical subject, while written descriptions of select source materials function as lengthy citations for the reader who wants to learn more. That’s heavy peritext for such a brief graphic novel.”
Adam McConville; Charlotte Brontë before Jane Eyre by Glynnis Fawkes (review); Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (Baltimore, Maryland); Oct 2019.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: