scholium
/'skouliæst/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A marginal note or explanatory comment: A "scholium" is a note, often found in the margins of a manuscript or an early printed book, that provides explanation, interpretation, or commentary on the main text. It is typically written by a scholar or commentator (a scholiast) and pertains to ancient or classical literature. 2. An annotation in classical texts: Specifically, it refers to the type of commentary found in editions of Greek and Roman authors, which may explain difficult words, historical references, or textual variants.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The medieval manuscript contained numerous scholia that helped modern translators understand the obscure passages.
- The editor's task was to compare the scholium in the margin with the main body of the text to verify its accuracy.
- This edition of Homer's Iliad includes all the ancient scholia, providing invaluable insight into how the text was understood in antiquity.
Advanced Usage
- "Critical scholium": A note that discusses a textual problem or proposes an emendation to the main text.
- The critical scholium on line 245 suggests a different reading of the verb, which changes the meaning of the entire stanza.
- The plural form is scholia (/'skoʊliə/).
Variants and Related Words
- Scholiast (noun): The writer of a scholium; a commentator on ancient texts.
- The scholiast who wrote these notes lived in the 10th century.
- Scholarly (adjective): Characteristic of or suitable for a scholar; learned.
- The book is a scholarly work on Roman history.
Synonyms
- Annotation: A note of explanation or comment added to a text.
- Gloss: A brief explanation or translation of a difficult word or expression.
- Commentary: A series of explanations or interpretations.
- Marginalia: Notes written in the margins of a book.
Related Phrases
- To provide a scholium on: To write an explanatory note about a specific point in a text.
- The professor provided a brief scholium on the historical context of the battle.
Noun
- a marginal note written by a scholiast (a commentator on ancient or classical literature)