Word meaning

palimpsest

noun · PAL-imp-sest

What does palimpsest mean?

Palimpsest means something reused or altered but still showing traces of its earlier form.

Palimpsest in a sentence

“The old building is a palimpsest of a century of renovations.”

Synonyms for palimpsest

  • layered record
  • overwritten text
  • trace

Where does palimpsest come from?

From Greek palimpsēstos, "scraped again," describing manuscripts written over erased text.

How to remember palimpsest

  • Say it out loud a few times: PAL-imp-sest.
  • Write one sentence of your own using palimpsest, about something that happened to you today.
  • Quiz yourself tomorrow, in three days, and next week. Spaced reviews are what make new words stick.

More words worth knowing

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  • versatile — able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities.
  • judicious — having, showing, or done with good judgment or sense.
  • urbane — courteous, refined, and confident, especially in social situations.
  • tangible — perceptible by touch; clear and definite, real.

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