incunabula
[ in-kyoo-nab-yuh-luh, ing- ]
/ ˌɪn kyʊˈnæb yə lə, ˌɪŋ- /
plural noun, singular in·cu·nab·u·lum [in-kyoo-nab-yuh-luh m, ing-] /ˌɪn kyʊˈnæb yə ləm, ˌɪŋ-/.
extant copies of books produced in the earliest stages (before 1501) of printing from movable type.
the earliest stages or first traces of anything.
Origin of incunabula
1815–25; < Latin: straps holding a baby in a cradle, earliest home, birthplace, probably equivalent to
*incūnā(re) to place in a cradle (
in-
in-2 +
*-cūnāre, verbal derivative of
cūnae cradle) +
-bula, plural of
-bulum suffix of instrument; def. 1 as translation of German
Wiegendrucke
OTHER WORDS FROM incunabula
in·cu·nab·u·lar, adjective post·in·cu·nab·u·la, adjectiveWords nearby incunabula
incumbent,
incumbent on,
incumber,
incumbrance,
incunable,
incunabula,
incur,
incurable,
incurious,
incurrence,
incurrent
British Dictionary definitions for incunabulum
incunabula
/ (ˌɪnkjʊˈnæbjʊlə) /
pl n singular -lum (-ləm)
any book printed before 1501
the infancy or earliest stages of something; beginnings
Derived forms of incunabula
incunabular, adjectiveWord Origin for incunabula
C19: from Latin, originally: swaddling clothes, hence beginnings, from
in- ² +
cūnābula cradle