bicameral script

8.9

A writing system whose letters have both capital and small forms

noun
/ˌbaɪˈkæmərəl skrɪpt/

Specialized

: escritura bicameral

The English alphabet is a bicameral script, featuring both uppercase and lowercase letters.

Examples

Most modern European languages are written in bicameral scripts such as Latin or Cyrillic.
Typographers must consider how each letter looks in both cases when designing a bicameral script.
The bicameral script is fascinating.
Can you explain what a bicameral script is?
The English alphabet is a bicameral script, featuring both uppercase and lowercase letters.
Most modern European languages are written in bicameral scripts such as Latin or Cyrillic.
Typographers must consider how each letter looks in both cases when designing a bicameral script.

How Many Cases

bicameral script

Specialized

8.9

unicameral script

Specialized

9.9

Surface Forms

bicameral script singular

bicameral scripts plural

Morphology

bicameral + script

The meaning 'a writing system with two distinct cases' is directly and compositionally derived from 'bicameral' (two-chambered / two-case) + 'script' (writing system). Although 'bicameral' is a less frequent word, the compound follows regular semantics so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Bicameral script comes from the image of a building with two rooms: bi- means 'two' and cameral comes from a word for 'chamber' or room. So it means a writing system with two sets of letters, 'uppercase' and 'lowercase'.