commonplace book
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A commonplace book is a personal notebook or journal in which a person records and collects quotations, ideas, anecdotes, observations, and other pieces of information that they find meaningful, useful, or worth remembering. It serves as a repository for intellectual and personal memorabilia.
Usage
A commonplace book is used for the systematic or personal collection of knowledge. Unlike a diary, it focuses on external information rather than daily personal experiences. It is a tool for learning, reflection, and creative inspiration.
Examples
- Scholars and writers have historically kept a commonplace book to organize their reading notes.
- Her commonplace book was filled with poetry excerpts, scientific facts, and sketches.
- He consulted his commonplace book when writing his essay to find supporting quotes.
Advanced Usage
- As a method of learning: Keeping a commonplace book is an active learning technique, encouraging engagement with texts and aiding long-term memory.
- Digital commonplace books: Modern versions can be digital files, note-taking apps, or blogs that serve the same purpose of collecting and categorizing information.
Variants and Related Words
- Commonplace (adjective): Ordinary, unoriginal, or frequently encountered. (e.g., a remark).
- Note: The adjective "commonplace" is related but has a distinct meaning from the compound noun "commonplace book."
- Journal (noun): A daily record of news and events; a diary.
- Scrapbook (noun): A book for collecting pictures, newspaper articles, and other memorabilia.
- Anthology (noun): A published collection of writings by various authors.
Synonyms
- Notebook
- Miscellany
- Repository
- Sourcebook
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To keep a commonplace book: The standard phrase for the practice of maintaining such a notebook.
- Example: Many Renaissance thinkers were advised to keep a commonplace book.
Noun
- a notebook in which you enter memorabilia