bibliotheca

noun

bib·​lio·​the·​ca ˌbi-blē-ə-ˈthē-kə How to pronounce bibliotheca (audio)
plural bibliothecas or bibliothecae ˌbi-blē-ə-ˈthē-ˌsē How to pronounce bibliotheca (audio)
-ˌkē
1
: a collection of books
2
: a list of books
bibliothecal adjective

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek bibliothēkē, from bibli- + thēkē case; akin to Greek tithenai to put, place — more at do

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of bibliotheca was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near bibliotheca

Cite this Entry

“Bibliotheca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bibliotheca. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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