Sphragist
/ˈsfrædʒɪst/noun
A person who studies or specializes in seals, especially historical seals used on documents.
Did you know?Historical seals were not merely decorative: they authenticated documents and could function as powerful symbols of legal authority, rank, and identity.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
σφραγίς (sphragís)
“A seal, signet, or impression made by a seal”
Late Greek
Greek
σφραγιστικός (sphragistikós)
“Relating to seals or the making and study of seals”
19th Century
French
sphragistique
“The study or classification of seals”
19th Century
English
sphragistics
“The scholarly study of seals”
Modern English
English
sphragist
“A specialist in sphragistics, or the study of seals”
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