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Greek Abbreviations
By abbreviations here are meant combinations of letters
made for the sake of the meaning of a word or words rather than
for the purpose of rapid writing. For those see the separate Greek Letter Combinations file. Not included here is any listing of "standard"
abbreviations, when for instance the conclusion of a word is omitted,
or prepositions are given by one or two letters.
Abbreviations could be made in a number of ways. The following
tables present variations using the following methods:
- Superposition: placing of one or more letters are above
others.
- Combination: intertwining letters with each other
- Suspension: omitting the end of a word.
- Contraction: omitting the middle part of a word. (Very
common in nomina sacra)
- Symbols: using a symbol with no connection to usual
letter forms.
- "Deformed letters"
: using a variety of symbols, some from shorthand. Common
at the end of words.
Two ore more of these methods might be used in one abbreviation.
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Abbreviations: through suspension together with superposition or combination
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Abbreviations: through contraction together with superposition, suspension or combination
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Nomina Sacra:
names or titles of sacred figures, usually through contraction
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Symbols
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Monograms:
combinations and superpositions of letters to create distinctive name-symbols
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Abbreviations:
from deformation of letters or tachygraphy
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Source: Bernhard Abraham van Groningen, Short Manual of Greek
Palaeography, (Leiden: 1940)
The author and maintainer of this site is Paul
Halsall. He can be contacted by email at halsall@fordham.edu
Please do not hesitate to mail comments or suggestions.
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