PARAPH

paraph

(noun) a flourish added after or under your signature (originally to protect against forgery)

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

paraph (plural paraphs)

A flourish made after or below one's signature, originally to prevent forgery.

A mark used by medieval rubricators to indicate textual division.

Verb

paraph (third-person singular simple present paraphs, present participle paraphing, simple past and past participle paraphed)

(transitive) To add a paraph to; to sign, especially with one's initials.

Source: Wiktionary


Par"aph, n. Etym: [F. paraphe, parafe, contr. fr. paragraphe.]

Definition: A flourish made with the pen at the end of a signature. In the Middle Ages, this formed a sort of rude safeguard against forgery. Brande & C.

Par"aph, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paraphed; p. pr. & vb. n. Paraphing.] Etym: [Cf. F. parapher, parafer.]

Definition: To add a paraph to; to sign, esp. with the initials.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

17 April 2025

SPONGE

(noun) a porous mass of interlacing fibers that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals and usable to absorb water or any porous rubber or cellulose product similarly used


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.

coffee icon