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Glite Dictionary
two-line great primer

two-line great primer

9.9
A size for printed letters that printers often use for headings, about 36 points
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : gran tipo de dos líneas
  • When setting the title page, the printer chose two-line great primer for emphasis.

Examples

  • The old book was printed using two-line great primer for its main headings.

  • Collectors of antique type specimens often seek rare two-line great primer blocks.

  • The book was printed in two-line great primer for clarity.

  • Many classic texts use two-line great primer for readability.

  • In historical printing, the two-line great primer is a popular choice for large headings.

  • The artist selected a two-line great primer size to make the title stand out on the poster.

  • For the exhibition catalog, the designer opted for a two-line great primer to enhance the text visibility.

Synonyms

double great primer
vstwo-line great primer
  • Archaic
9.9

A size of printed letters equal to 36 points used for large headings

has identical meaning but uses a different traditional name

Surface Forms

two-line great primer singular
two-line great primers plural

Morphology

two-line + great + primer

This is a specialized typographic term referring to a specific type size (36 points) and its technical usage as a printing-measurement label cannot be derived from the ordinary meanings of 'two', 'line', 'great', or the common sense of 'primer' (beginner book). Although the phrase superficially suggests something about size, the precise measurement and historical/industry sense are jargonistic and not predictable to a B1 learner who only knows the constituents, so it is opaque.

Etymology

Two-line great primer may come from old print shops where great primer named a large font and two-line showed the metal letter blocks were the height of two normal lines. That's why the term now refers to a large type size of about 36 points used for 'headings'.