manuscript
A document written by hand or typed but not yet published. / A text written by hand from a period before the invention of printing.
[C] Countable
pl: manuscripts
The term evokes a sense of raw, unfinished creation or historical antiquity. In modern publishing, it refers to the draft stage of a book, carrying a connotation of potential and vulnerability before the editing process transforms it into a finished product.
In an archival sense, it suggests a tactile, singular object of high value. It implies a direct connection to the scribe or author, distinguishing the unique, physical labor of handwriting from the uniformity of mass-produced printed books.
Used for individual physical documents or specific book drafts.
Meanings
Examples
The author submitted her manuscript to the publisher.
0
The museum displays a rare medieval manuscript.
0
Related Words
drafttextscriptdocumentpublicationprintauthorwriterpublishereditorscribecalligraphyparchmentvellumpapyrusinkquillpenhandwritingcodexscrollpalimpsestarchivelibrarymuseumcuratorpaleographyphilologyeditionproofreadrevisionchapterpagemarginbindingleatherilluminatedrubricationmedievalancientclassicliteraryprosepoetrynoveltreatisejournaldiaryletterepistleautographcopyisttranscriptiontypewriterword processordraftingcompositiongenrenarrativeplotstoryboardoutlinecopyrightroyaltyprinting presstypographytypesettingfolioquartooctavo