Bibliography
/ˌbɪb.liˈɒɡ.rə.fi/noun
A list of the books and other sources used in research or referenced in a work.
Did you know?The roots of 'bibliography' trace back to the ancient practice of 'book magic', where texts were believed to hold mystical powers over knowledge and reality.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
βιβλιογραφία (bibliographia)
“The art of writing books.”
Late Latin
Latin
bibliographia
“The writing or description of books.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
bibliographia
“The study of books; the science of book collecting.”
18th Century
English
bibliography
“The systematic listing of books.”
19th Century
English
bibliography
“The practice of compiling lists of sources used in scholarly writing.”
Modern English
English
bibliography
“A comprehensive list of works cited or referenced.”
Explore more surprising origins