Uncial

Attested 1650, from Latin uncia ("one twelfth part, ounce, inch").

Full definition of uncial

Adjective

1. (rare) Of, or relating to an ounce, or an inch, especially to letters printed an inch high.

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 “” in Wikipedia.

Adjective

1. Of, or relating to a majuscule style of writing with unjoined, rounded letters, originally used in the 4th–9th centuries.

Noun

1. A style of writing using uncial letters.
2. A letter in this style.
3. A manuscript in this style.

Derived terms

• semi-uncial, half-uncial

Related terms

• uncia
• ounce
• inch

Anagrams

• Lucian