Sphragistic
/ˌsfraɡˈɪstɪk/noun
Relating to the study of seals, especially their use in authenticating documents and artifacts.
Did you know?Sphragistics comes from the Greek word for a seal, and seals were once treated as legal magic: a stamped impression could make a message official, protected, and nearly untouchable.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
σφραγίς (sphragís)
“a seal; a signet; a stamped impression”
Late Greek
Greek
σφραγιστικός (sphragistikós)
“pertaining to sealing or to seals”
Medieval Latin
Latin
sphragisticus
“relating to seals or seal-impressions”
17th–18th Century
English
sphragistic
“relating to the study of seals and seal impressions”
Modern English
English
sphragistic
“relating to sphragistics, the study of seals”
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