The word "duodecimo" is spelled as d-y-o-o-d-e-s-i-m-o. The IPA phonetic transcription for this word is /ˌduːəˈdɛsɪməʊ/. In publishing, duodecimo is used to describe a book format where a large sheet of paper is folded three times to create twelve leaves or 24 pages. This format was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. The spelling of "duodecimo" can be tricky for non-native speakers as the "deci" part is pronounced with a short "e" sound, rather than a long "e" sound as one might expect.
Duodecimo is a term used in the field of bookbinding and printing to describe a specific format or size of a book. It is derived from the Latin word "duodecimus," which means "twelfth" in English, indicating that a sheet of paper is folded into twelve equal parts to create a duodecimo-sized book.
In this format, each sheet of paper is folded twice, resulting in twelve leaves or twenty-four pages. The pages are smaller than those of larger book formats, making the duodecimo book compact and portable. The size of a duodecimo book can vary, but it generally falls within the range of 4 to 5 inches in width and 6 to 7 inches in height.
Duodecimos are often used for books containing literary works, poetry, or novels that people can easily carry and read. These small-sized books were popular during the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries, especially in Europe and America.
Today, the term duodecimo is less commonly used, as books are more often classified by their dimensions in inches or centimeters. However, it still holds historical significance and is sometimes encountered in discussions around traditional book formats and bookbinding techniques.
A book having twelve leaves to a sheet.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "duodecimo" originates from Latin and is derived from the combination of the words "duodecim" (meaning twelve) and "-mo" (a suffix used to denote the size or format of a book). The Latin word "duodecimo" itself means "in twelfths" or "twelfth". In the context of bookbinding, "duodecimo" refers to a small book size where each sheet is folded into twelve leaves or twenty-four pages, resulting in a compact and portable format.