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Glite Dictionary
diplomatics

diplomatics

1 9.9
The study of old documents that checks if they are real and where they came from
  • noun
  • /ˌdɪpləˈmætɪks/
  • Specialized
translation icon : diplomática
  • The study of diplomatics involves analyzing old documents to verify their origins.

Examples

  • In medieval times, the diploma concept extended to a category of official document that conferred privileges with foreign communities, and it was in conjunction with this broadened usage that one also starts to see, during the 16th and 17th centuries, an emerging science of diplomatics.

    Academic text (2007)

  • We've had some forgeries on the diplomatics.

    The Constant Gardener (2005)

  • even on diplomatics.

    The Constant Gardener (2005)

  • Such questions of diplomatics and philology have been examined by specialists in these fields, and their work has helped to signal the textual recycling and inventions.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Experts in diplomatics assess the authenticity of manuscripts to uncover historical truths.

  • She took a course in diplomatics to learn how to authenticate rare historical documents.

Synonyms

textual criticism
vsdiplomatics
  • Specialized
1 8.9

A study of different copies of a writing to find its original words

focuses on historical origin and authenticity rather than reconstructing wording
bibliotics
vsdiplomatics
  • Specialized
9.9

The study of documents and handwriting that finds who wrote them or if they are real

focuses on historical origin and provenance rather than handwriting analysis

Surface Forms

diplomatics singular
diplomatics plural

Morphology

diplomatics = diploma (opaque) = diploma + ics

Although formed with the disciplinary suffix '-ics' on a stem related in form to 'diploma', the specialized meaning 'study of historical documents' is not directly derivable from knowing 'diploma' (certificate), so the relation is not transparent for average learners.

Etymology

Diplomatics comes from diploma, which long ago meant a 'folded' or official paper and is the same root you see in diplomat. So diplomatics is the study of old official papers to find where they came from and if they are real.