codex

noun

co·dex ˈkō-ˌdeks

plural codices ˈkō-də-ˌsēz

ˈkä-

: a manuscript book especially of Scripture, classics, or ancient annals

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In the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D., the codex began to replace the older scroll as the preferred form for longer writings. Unlike the scroll, this wonderful invention permitted writing on both sides of a sheet, made it easy to locate a particular passage, and could contain a very long piece of writing. Codices (note this unusual plural form) were usually written on parchment, the specially prepared skin of a sheep or goat, or papyrus, the ancestor of paper. Because codices were handwritten, there were few copies of any single codex, and sometimes only a single copy. Today we no longer write our books in longhand, but the modern book has kept basically the same form as the original codices.

Examples of codex in a Sentence

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Collectibles fare a bit better, with a ton of notes and letters to find that flesh out the game’s staggeringly massive codex, sticking to the quippy humor that permeates much of the game. —

Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2024 He’s now dispatched an army of stabby crab-like aliens through portals to retrieve the Eddie-Venom codex and free himself. —

Katie Walsh, Chicago Tribune, 24 Oct. 2024 Giovanni’s questions range from David meeting with Leland to the codex and finally landing on a whopper: Would David ever lie to the Vatican on behalf of Kristen Bouchard? —

Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2024 His death successfully destroys the codex, keeping Knull in his prison. —

Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for codex