Twelvemo is a word referring to a book size or format in which a sheet of paper is folded to create twelve leaves or twenty-four pages. The spelling of Twelvemo follows the standard English pronunciation rules, and the phonetic transcription is /twɛlvəmoʊ/. The word begins with the consonant cluster /tw/ and is followed by the vowel sound /ɛ/. The ending /moʊ/ is pronounced with the diphthong sound /oʊ/. When pronouncing Twelvemo, the emphasis is on the second syllable, /lv/.
Twelvemo, abbreviated as 12mo, is a term used in bookbinding and publishing to describe a specific size category of printed books based on the dimensions of the unfolded printed sheet. It is designated as a duodecimo in the English-speaking world, derived from the Latin word "duodecimus" which means "twelfth."
A twelvemo book is produced by folding a printed sheet into twelve equal sections, resulting in twelve leaves or twenty-four pages. This folding method allows for smaller and more compact books compared to larger formats. The resulting book typically measures around six to seven inches in height and three to four inches in width.
Traditionally, twelvemo books were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, primarily due to their convenient size for portability and affordability. These compact books were often used for poetry, novels, and religious texts but could also include a variety of other genres.
In modern times, the twelvemo format is less commonly used, with larger formats such as octavo and quarto being more prevalent. However, the term "twelvemo" remains in use as a historical reference to describe books of a specific size category in the context of bookbinding and publishing terminology.
Overall, twelvemo is a term used to describe a specific size category of books, characterized by their compactness and convenience, resulting from the folding of a printed sheet into twelve equal sections.
The word "Twelvemo" is derived from two components.
Firstly, the word "twelve" comes from the Old English word "twelf", which ultimately stems from the Proto-Germanic word "twalif". It is related to other Germanic languages such as Old Frisian "twelluf", Old High German "zwelif", and Old Norse "tolfr". These words all refer to the number twelve.
Secondly, the suffix "-mo" comes from the Latin word "modus", meaning "measure" or "size". In book terminology, it is used to indicate the format or size of a book. For instance, "duodecimo" (abbreviated as "12mo") denotes a book made from sheets folded to create twelve leaves.