codex

noun

co·dex | \ ˈkō-ˌdeks

plural codices\ ˈkō-də-ˌsēz

, ˈkä-

Definition of codex

: a manuscript book especially of Scripture, classics, or ancient annals

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Did You Know?

In the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D., the codex began to replace the older scroll as the preferred form for longer writings. Unlike the scroll, this wonderful invention permitted writing on both sides of a sheet, made it easy to locate a particular passage, and could contain a very long piece of writing. Codices (note this unusual plural form) were usually written on parchment, the specially prepared skin of a sheep or goat, or papyrus, the ancestor of paper. Because codices were handwritten, there were few copies of any single codex, and sometimes only a single copy. Today we no longer write our books in longhand, but the modern book has kept basically the same form as the original codices.

Examples of codex in a Sentence

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Recently, Kasady, resurrected by his cult of followers, has gained control of Grendel and is coming after everyone who has ever possessed a symbiote in order to harvest their DNA, which contains codices that can free Knull. — Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, "Will Andy Serkis Take 'Venom 2' in a Darker Direction?," 8 Aug. 2019 Some of these pages exist as loose sheets today; others have been bound into the volumes now known as notebooks or codices. — Claudia Kalb, National Geographic, "Why Leonardo da Vinci’s brilliance endures, 500 years after his death," 12 June 2019 Rodriguez also makes wry paper works that riff on painted colonial and pre-Columbian codices in contemporary ways. — Carolina A. Miranda, latimes.com, "Datebook: The force of fashion photos, underwater montages and Washington, D.C., feminized," 28 June 2018 Rodriguez also makes wry paper works that riff on painted colonial and pre-Columbian codices in contemporary ways. — Carolina A. Miranda, latimes.com, "Datebook: The force of fashion photos, underwater montages and Washington, D.C., feminized," 28 June 2018 Rodriguez also makes wry paper works that riff on painted colonial and pre-Columbian codices in contemporary ways. — Carolina A. Miranda, latimes.com, "Datebook: The force of fashion photos, underwater montages and Washington, D.C., feminized," 28 June 2018 Rodriguez also makes wry paper works that riff on painted colonial and pre-Columbian codices in contemporary ways. — Carolina A. Miranda, latimes.com, "Datebook: The force of fashion photos, underwater montages and Washington, D.C., feminized," 28 June 2018 Rodriguez also makes wry paper works that riff on painted colonial and pre-Columbian codices in contemporary ways. — Carolina A. Miranda, latimes.com, "Datebook: The force of fashion photos, underwater montages and Washington, D.C., feminized," 28 June 2018 Rodriguez also makes wry paper works that riff on painted colonial and pre-Columbian codices in contemporary ways. — Carolina A. Miranda, latimes.com, "Datebook: The force of fashion photos, underwater montages and Washington, D.C., feminized," 28 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'codex.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for codex

codex

noun

co·dex | \ ˈkō-ˌdeks

plural codices\ ˈkōd-ə-ˌsēz

, ˈkäd-

Medical Definition of codex

: an official or standard collection of drug formulas and descriptions a codex similar to the British Pharmaceutical Codex

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codex

Definition of codex

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codex

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