sextern: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very rare (obsolete/historical)Formal, historical, ecclesiastical
Quick answer
What does “sextern” mean?
A gathering or group of six people.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A gathering or group of six people; specifically, a group of six monks or a section of a manuscript.
A unit or set of six, used historically in monastic or academic contexts, or more broadly to denote a sextet.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference; term is equally rare in both dialects and belongs to specialist historical vocabulary.
Connotations
Elicits connotations of medieval monasticism, manuscripts, or historical grouping.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects, found primarily in historical or academic texts.
Grammar
How to Use “sextern” in a Sentence
[the/this] sextern [of monks/sheets]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sextern” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The sextern gathering was recorded in the chronicle.
American English
- A sextern arrangement of monks was traditional.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, theological, or palaeographic contexts to describe manuscript structure or monastic organisation.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Specific to codicology (study of manuscripts) for a gathering of six folded sheets.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sextern”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sextern”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sextern”
- Misspelling as 'sextant' or 'sexton'.
- Using it in modern contexts where 'group of six' or 'sextet' is appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare, historical term used primarily in academic contexts related to medieval manuscripts or monastic life.
No, it is exclusively a noun (and occasionally used attributively as an adjective). There is no standard verb form.
A 'sextern' is a set or gathering of six, while a 'quaternion' is a set of four. Both terms are used in historical manuscript description.
No, they are false friends. 'Sexton' refers to a church officer, while 'sextern' relates to the number six. Their etymologies are different.
A gathering or group of six people.
Sextern is usually formal, historical, ecclesiastical in register.
Sextern: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛkstən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛkstərn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bound in sexterns (archaic, referring to bookbinding)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SIX-tern' – it contains 'six' and refers to a group or gathering of six.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR A SET (A sextern is a container/concept holding six units).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'sextern' most likely to be used today?