book-plate

A librarian carefully places a book-plate inside the front cover of a new library book.

Definition

Noun: - A label identifying ownership: A "book-plate" is a decorative label or stamp, typically pasted inside the front cover of a book, bearing the owner's name, crest, or design. It serves as a marker of personal property.

Usage Examples

• (A decorative label indicating ownership.)
• (A printed design identifying the book's original owner.)

Advanced Usage

• "ex libris": A Latin phrase meaning "from the books of," often used interchangeably with "book-plate" in formal contexts.
  • The book-plate read "Ex Libris John Smith," indicating the book belonged to him. (A formal ownership label.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bookplate (n): A common variant spelling without a hyphen, meaning the same thing.

  • The bookplate was intricately engraved with a tree and a motto. (A decorative ownership label.)

• Plate (n): A broader term for a thin, flat sheet of material, such as a printing plate or a decorative label.

  • The artist created a metal plate for printing the book-plates. (A printing surface.)

Synonyms

• Ownership label: A sticker or tag indicating possession.
• Ex libris: A Latin phrase used as a synonym in bibliophilic contexts.

Related Idioms

• "To have one's book-plate in a book": To claim ownership or personal connection to a book.
  • He always placed his book-plate in every volume he acquired. (He marked his books as his own.)