critical apparatus
- noun
- /ˈkrɪtɪkəl əˈpærətəs/
- Jargon
:
aparato crítico
- This swell in Arab American scholarship indicated that on the eve of 9/11, a serious discussion of the probity of Arab American Studies was imminent, even if the critical apparatus on which such an endeavor would be based was still relatively immature.
Examples
-
All three editors witness the incompatibility of the variant signature strophes and internal references: the nature of their editions dictates that they privilege one reading while relegating the other to the critical apparatus.
Academic text (1994) -
The author's critical apparatus provided valuable insights into the historical context of the manuscript.
-
Francesco Petrarch, the prime mover of early Italian humanism, had none of this critical apparatus to help him.
Academic text (2009) -
To fully understand the text, readers should refer to the critical apparatus that explains the editorial choices.
-
Scholars often rely on the critical apparatus for alternative interpretations of the text's meaning.
Synonyms
58
3.8
Notes written to explain and discuss a book or text
How Detailed
- Jargon
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
A learner who knows 'critical' (relating to critique) and 'apparatus' (a set of tools or equipment) can plausibly infer this is a set of tools used for critical work, so there is some compositional cue. However, the specific scholarly meaning (the editorial notes and variant readings in a critical edition) is a specialized, domain-specific extension not directly predictable from the constituents, so it is not fully transparent.
Etymology
Critical apparatus comes from the image of a small apparatus or toolbox attached to a book full of critical notes. This 'apparatus' lists different readings and short comments that show how the text changed. That's why it means 'the set of notes and readings' in a scholarly edition.