quarto
Noun: 1. A book size: The size of a book or page created by folding a standard sheet of paper twice, resulting in four leaves (eight pages). This is a traditional bookbinding and printing term. 2. A book of this size: A book that is produced in this format.
The term "quarto" is used primarily in the context of book publishing, printing, and bibliography to describe the physical format and size of a book, especially older or scholarly editions. * As a size descriptor: "The early Shakespeare editions were printed in quarto." * As a countable noun for the book itself: "This is a valuable quarto from the 17th century."
- "The library's special collection includes several Shakespeare quartos."
- "Compared to a folio, a quarto book is smaller and more portable."
- "Bibliographers noted that the pamphlet was published in quarto format."
- Abbreviation: Often abbreviated as 4to or 4º in bibliographic descriptions.
- Example: "The catalog listed the volume as '4to, London, 1721.'"
- Historical Context: In earlier centuries, plays, poems, and pamphlets were frequently published as quartos. The term is strongly associated with the early print history of English Renaissance drama.
- Folio: A larger book size made by folding a sheet once, creating two leaves (four pages). Abbreviated as fol. or 2º.
- Octavo: A smaller book size made by folding a sheet three times, creating eight leaves (sixteen pages). Abbreviated as 8vo or 8º.
- 4to
- 4º
The word "quarto" is highly specific to book production and has no other common meanings in modern English. It should not be confused with the musical term "quartet" or the fraction "quarter," despite sharing a Latin root related to the number four.
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the size of a book whose pages are made by folding a sheet of paper twice to form four leaves
