Definition

Noun: * Wove paper: A type of writing paper characterized by a very fine, uniform, mesh-like texture across its surface, created during the manufacturing process. This texture is smooth and lacks the prominent parallel lines found in "laid paper."

Usage

• Wove paper is the standard, most common type of paper used today for printing books, stationery, and general writing purposes due to its smooth, even surface.
• It is often contrasted with laid paper, which has visible parallel lines (chain lines and wire lines).
• The term is typically used in contexts discussing paper quality, printing, bookbinding, or fine stationery.

Examples

• "Most modern novels are printed on wove paper."
• "For her correspondence, she preferred the smooth feel of high-quality wove paper."
• "The watermark was barely visible on the fine wove paper."

Advanced Usage

• In historical contexts, the invention of wove paper in the 18th century represented a significant advancement in papermaking technology, allowing for a smoother printing surface.
• Bibliographers and conservators examine whether a book or document is printed on wove or laid paper to help determine its age and authenticity.

Variants and Related Words

• Wove (adj.): Describes the texture of the paper (e.g., "a wove finish").
• Laid paper (n.): The contrasting type of paper with visible parallel lines.
• Wire side (n.): The side of a sheet of wove paper that was in contact with the wire mesh during manufacture, often slightly rougher.
• Felt side (n.): The smoother side of the paper sheet.

Synonyms

• Smooth-finish paper
• Plain paper (in a general, non-technical sense, though this is less precise)

Antonyms

• Laid paper

Related Phrases/Idioms

• On wove: A shorthand phrase used in describing materials, especially in auction catalogs or archival descriptions (e.g., "Letter, 1850, on wove").

Noun

1. writing paper having a very faint mesh pattern