vigesimo-quarto
extremely rare / specializedhighly technical / historical
Definition
Meaning
A size of paper produced by folding a full sheet into 24 leaves, resulting in 48 pages; also known as 'twenty-fourmo'.
In bookbinding and printing, refers specifically to a book format where each sheet is folded four times to create 24 leaves, historically used for small, portable volumes like almanacs or devotional texts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in historical bibliography, antiquarian book trades, and specialized printing contexts. The term is largely obsolete in modern publishing, replaced by metric dimensions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally archaic in both varieties. British antiquarian catalogues might use the full Latin form slightly more, while American descriptions may simplify to '24mo'.
Connotations
Connotes antique or scholarly precision in describing old books. Implies a focus on bibliographical detail rather than contemporary publishing.
Frequency
Effectively zero in general usage. Found almost exclusively in catalogues of rare books or academic papers on historical printing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[book/publication] is + in vigesimo-quarto[printer] produced + a vigesimo-quartoVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical bibliography, book history, and library science for precise description of early printed books.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
The primary context. Used in cataloguing rules (e.g., Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials) and by antiquarian booksellers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The 1785 almanac is a desirable vigesimo-quarto item for collectors of ephemera.
American English
- The auction featured a vigesimo-quarto prayer book from a New England press.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This old book is very small because it was printed in vigesimo-quarto format.
- Librarians use special terms like 'vigesimo-quarto' to describe old book sizes.
- The catalogue description noted a 'vigesimo-quarto' binding, indicating a highly portable 18th-century edition.
- Bibliographical analysis requires distinguishing between a sextodecimo and a vigesimo-quarto gathering.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'VIGorous ESImo' (like a vigorous estimate) for 'vigesimo' meaning twentieth, and 'QUARTO' meaning fourth – it's a 20th? No, it's a 24th (20+4) size.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BOOK AS A PHYSICAL ARTIFACT: The term belongs to an era when a book's format directly revealed its production method (folds per sheet) and intended use (portability, cost).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with 'vigesimal' (двадцатеричный) – only the first part relates to twenty. The term is a Latin compound not directly translatable.
- Tendency to translate as 'двадцатичетвертка' which is not a standard bibliographic term in Russian; 'in-24°' or 'формат в 24-ю долю листа' is preferred.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe modern A6 or pocket-sized books.
- Pronouncing 'vigesimo' as /vaɪˈɡɛsɪmoʊ/ (hard 'g').
- Confusing it with 'duodecimo' (12mo) or 'sextodecimo' (16mo).
Practice
Quiz
In which field would you most likely encounter the term 'vigesimo-quarto'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Modern paper sizes use international standards (A-series, B-series) or specific named sizes like 'pocketbook'. The term is purely historical/descriptive for old books.
'Quarto' (4to) means a sheet folded twice, making 4 leaves (8 pages). 'Vigesimo-quarto' (24mo) means a sheet folded four times in a specific pattern to make 24 leaves (48 pages), resulting in a much smaller book.
The standard abbreviation is '24mo', often written in superscript as '24°' or simply '24mo'.
It would be highly unusual and potentially confusing unless you are speaking with a specialist in rare books or printing history.