paraph meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

paraph

noun

UK /ˈpaɹəf/ · US /ˈpɛrəf/

Etymology Inherited from Middle English paraf, from Medieval Latin paraffus or its etymon Middle French paraphe, paraffe, shortening of paragraphe, from Ancient Greek παράγραφος (parágraphos).

A flourish made after or below one's signature, originally to prevent forgery.

A mark used by medieval rubricators to indicate textual division.

Commencing with a C-shaped paraph-sign in the same brown ink, the glosses are linked to their corresponding passages by alphabetic signs comprising single letters in a sequence beginning with a in each margin, moving on to b, c, and d down the page, and, ideally, linking with the same letter in the adjacent column. Such a pairing allows for matching the gloss with the specific location in the text where its comment should be considered.2016 October 3, “It’s A Wrap”, in Research Group on Manuscript Evidence:

Related terms: autograph, pilcrow

paraph

verb

To add a paraph to; to sign, especially with one's initials.