There is no need to coin new words to describe the exciting life of a book lover. The classic dictionary is full of them.
The most famous bookish words of the internet era, such as vellichor (the strange wistfulness of used bookshops) or bibliosmia (the act of smelling books), were invented just a couple of years ago.
There are never enough words to describe the life and feelings of a booknerd, but sometimes all you need is open a dictionary and find beautiful words that are either lesser known or long forgotten.
One day, I have visited Merriam-Webster online dictionary and thesaurus to find less popular descriptions of a “book lover.” When I switched to the Unabridged Merriam-Webster Dictionary (which includes also the collegiate dictionary and thesaurus) I have discovered dozens of beautiful words that relate to books, libraries, language, and knowledge.
Do you know what “florilegium” is? What about “exordium,” “sesquipedalian,” or “bibliopegist”?
I realize that in the times of digital books some words, such as “buckram” are less needed for the literari. On the other side, you don’t have to be a double-dome to start using a “shelfback” instead of a book spine or describe your collection of books as “assemblage.”
Which of these bookish classic words do you like the most?
50 classic words for book lovers
1
bibliolater
noun [ ˌbi-blē-ˈä-lə-tər ] one who is keenly devoted to books
2
shelfback
noun a book spine; the edge of a book along which the sections are secured together in binding
3
literari
plural noun [ ˌli-tə-ˈrä-(ˌ)tē ] persons interested in literature or the arts
4
buckram
noun [ ˈbə-krəm ] a stiff, heavily sized fabric usually used for library bindings
5
coinage
noun [ ˈkȯi-nij ] something (such as a word) made up or invented
6
florilegium
noun [ ˌflȯr-ə-ˈlē-j(ē-)əm ] a volume of writings
7
broadside
noun [ ˈbrȯd-ˌsīd ] a sizable sheet of paper printed on one side
8
bibliogenesis
noun [ ¦bi-blē-ə-¦je-nə-səs ] production of books
9
denouement
noun [ ˌdā-ˌnü-ˈmäⁿ ] the final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a literary work
10
paragraphist
noun [ par·a·graph·ist ] a writer of paragraphs especially for the editorial page of a newspaper
11
booklore
noun learning acquired from books as distinguished from practical knowledge
12
omnilegent
adjective [ (ˈ)äm¦niləjənt ] reading or having read everything
13
breakfront
noun [ ˈbrāk-ˌfrənt ] a large cabinet or bookcase whose center section projects beyond the flanking end sections
14
procès-verbal
noun [ ¦präˌsāˌver¦bäl ] a detailed written account of things said or done that is official and authenticated
15
intelligencer
noun [ in-ˈte-lə-jən(t)-sər ] a person employed by a newspaper, magazine, or radio or television station to gather, write, or report news
16
word–stock
noun the vocabulary of a language, dialect, or idiolect
17
frontispiece
noun [ ˈfrən-tə-ˌspēs ] an illustration preceding and usually facing the title page of a book or magazine
18
bibliotherapy
noun [ ˌbi-blē-ə-ˈther-ə-pē ] the use of reading materials for help in solving personal problems or for psychiatric therapy
19
exordium
noun [ eg-ˈzȯr-dē-əm ] a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part
20
articulateness
noun [ är-ˈti-kyə-lət-nəs ] the art or power of speaking or writing in a forceful and convincing way
21
linguipotence
noun [ liŋˈgwipətən(t)s ] mastery of languages
22
wordie
noun [ ˈwər-dē ] a lover of words
23
utterance
noun [ ˈə-tə-rən(t)s ] the style or manner of speaking
24
shibboleth
noun [ ˈshi-bə-ləth ] a use of language regarded as distinctive of a particular group
25
argot
noun [ ˈär-(ˌ)gō ] the language used by a particular type or group of people
26
double-dome
noun [ ˈdə-bəl-ˌdōm ] a person of superior intelligence
27
bibliotaph
noun [ ˈbi-blē-ə-ˌtaf ] one that hides away or hoards books
28
vernacular
adjective [ vər-ˈna-kyə-lər ] using a language or dialect native to a region or country rather than a literary, cultured, or foreign language
29
collectanea
plural noun [ ˌkä-ˌlek-ˈtā-nē-ə ] literary items forming a collection
30
assemblage
noun [ ə-ˈsem-blij ] an organized group of objects acquired and maintained for study, exhibition, or personal pleasure
31
periphrasis
noun [ pə-ˈri-frə-səs ] the use of too many words to express an idea
32
minstrelsy
noun [ ˈmin(t)-strəl-sē ] writing that uses rhythm, vivid language, and often rhyme to provoke an emotional response
33
pidgin
noun [ ˈpi-jən ] a simplified speech used for communication between people with different languages
34
novelette
noun [ ¦nävə¦let ] a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel
35
litterateur
noun [ ¦litərə¦tər ] a person who creates a written work
36
fictionist
noun [ ˈfik-sh(ə-)nist ] a writer of fiction; especially novelist
37
dithyramb
noun [ ˈdi-thi-ˌramz ] a usually short poem in an inspired wild irregular strain
38
inenarrable
adjective [ ¦inē¦narəbəl ] beyond the power to describe
39
verbiage
noun [ ˈvər-bē-ij ] manner of expressing oneself in words
40
wordsmithery
noun [ ˈwərd-ˌsmi-thə-rē ] the skill or craft of working with words
41
crackerjack
noun [ ˈkra-kər-ˌjak ] a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
42
bibliotheca
noun [ ˌbi-blē-ə-ˈthē-kə ] a library or collection of books
43
sesquipedalian
adjective [ ¦se-skwə-pə-¦dāl-jən ] given to or characterized by the use of long words
44
acrolect
noun [ ˈa-krə-ˌlekt ] the language variety of a speech community closest to the standard or prestige form of a language
45
polymath
noun [ ˈpä-lē-ˌmath ] one of encyclopedic learning
46
bellyband
noun [ ˈbe-lē-ˌband ] a band that is used as packaging or decoration around a book, magazine, or similar item
47
exemplum
noun [ ˈzempləm ] a short narrative used to point a moral or sustain an argument
48
bibliopole
noun [ ˈbi-blē-ə-ˌpōl ] a dealer in books (such as secondhand, rare, or curious books)
49
colophon
noun [ ˈkä-lə-fən ] an inscription usually placed at the end of a book containing facts relative to its production
50
word–painting
noun a graphic or vivid description in words
51
bibliopegist
noun [ ˌbi-blē-ˈä-pə-jist ] one that binds or repairs books
Don’t stop exploring. Here are other lists and tips:
- These library-themed gifts are extremely easy to personalize. All you have to do is add your own text!
- In this updated overview, you’ll see gorgeous iPhone covers that will remind you of the joy of reading books anywhere, […]
- Explore some of the best home decor items for book lovers that are handmade from metal: steel, brass, copper, bolts, […]
- Here is a list of factors that will let you spot AI-generated books that are currently flooding Kindle Unlimited catalog.
If you don’t want to miss future updates, make sure to enable email notifications in the comment box below. We are also waiting for you on WordPress Reader, Mastodon, Tumblr, and Facebook. You can also add us to your Google News channels.
If you buy an item via this post, we may get a small affiliate fee (details). We only use the cookies that are necessary to run this site properly (details).
Leave a Reply