uncial

3 definitions found

uncial - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Uncial \Un"cial\, n.
     An uncial letter.
     [1913 Webster]

  Uncial \Un"cial\, a. [L. uncialis amounting to the twelfth part
     of a pound or a foot, from uncia the twelfth part of a pound
     or of a foot, an ounce, an inch: cf. F. oncial. See Inch a
     measure.]
     Of, pertaining to, or designating, a certain style of letters
     used in ancient manuscripts, esp. in Greek and Latin
     manuscripts. The letters are somewhat rounded, and the
     upstrokes and downstrokes usually have a slight inclination.
     These letters were used as early as the 1st century b. c.,
     and were seldom used after the 10th century a. d., being
     superseded by the cursive style.
     [1913 Webster]

uncial - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  uncial
      adj 1: relating to or written in majuscule letters (which
             resemble modern capitals); "uncial letters"
      n 1: a style of orthography characterized by somewhat rounded
           capital letters; found especially in Greek and Latin
           manuscripts of the 4th to 8th centuries