sexto: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Historical
Quick answer
What does “sexto” mean?
A book or pamphlet printed on sheets folded into six leaves (12 pages).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A book or pamphlet printed on sheets folded into six leaves (12 pages).
A size of book or paper resulting from folding a sheet into six leaves; historically used in printing and bibliography.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is equally technical and rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Scholarly, antiquarian, specialist.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both regions, confined to specialist texts on printing history or rare books.
Grammar
How to Use “sexto” in a Sentence
The book is [a sexto].It was printed [in sexto].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sexto” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The library acquired a rare sexto pamphlet from the 17th century.
American English
- The auction featured a sexto edition of the poet's early work.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical bibliography, book history, or library science to describe a specific book format.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Used in printing, rare book cataloguing, and antiquarian bookselling.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sexto”
- Using it to mean 'sixth'.
- Using it as a general term for any small book.
- Pronouncing it like 'sex-to' (/sɛkstəʊ/ is correct).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency technical term used almost exclusively in the fields of historical bibliography and rare books.
Yes, it is most commonly used as a noun ('a sexto') or as an adjective modifying a noun like 'edition' or 'volume' ('a sexto pamphlet').
They are different book formats based on how many times the original sheet of paper is folded. A sexto sheet is folded into six leaves (12 pages), while an octavo sheet is folded into eight leaves (16 pages). Octavo is a much more common format.
Yes, etymologically it comes from Latin for 'sixth' (in the ablative case, 'in sexto'), referring to the sixth-sized sheet. However, in modern English usage, it is not used as a number but solely as the name of a specific book format.
A book or pamphlet printed on sheets folded into six leaves (12 pages).
Sexto is usually technical/historical in register.
Sexto: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛkstəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛkstoʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SIX-to': it's a book where one sheet is folded into SIX leaves.
Conceptual Metaphor
FORMAT IS SIZE (A specific, named size for a physical object).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'sexto' specifically refer to?