orientalia

1 9.8

Things from Asian cultures like old books, art, and objects

noun
/ɔːrɪˈɛnˌteɪliə/

Jargon

: orientalia

The museum's orientalia exhibit features ancient Japanese scrolls and Korean ceramics.

Examples

Collectors often seek rare orientalia such as old maps and manuscripts from China.
Researchers traveled to study the orientalia preserved in the university archives.
The library has a vast collection of orientalia.
She studies orientalia at the university.
The museum's orientalia exhibit features ancient Japanese scrolls and Korean ceramics.
Collectors often seek rare orientalia such as old maps and manuscripts from China.
Researchers traveled to study the orientalia preserved in the university archives.

Surface Forms

orientalia singular

orientalias plural

Morphology

orientalia = oriental (semi-transparent) = oriental + ia

Formed from 'oriental' plus the learned Latin-derived suffix '-ia' to denote a collection; the connection to 'oriental' is clear but the suffix is specialized and not fully productive for average learners.

Etymology

Orientalia comes from the old Latin word oriens, seen in orient, which means 'east' or 'rising', like the sun. So orientalia are books, objects, or art from the 'East', especially Asia, and that is why museums and collectors use the word for Asian items.