Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

palimpsest

noun
/ˈpælɪmpsɛst/
Definition
A manuscript or piece of writing material on which later writing has been superimposed on effaced earlier writing.
Examples
  • The ancient script was discovered on a palimpsest, revealing layers of history.
  • In literature, the term can describe a text that is rewritten over previous texts.
Meaning
Palimpsest refers to something that has been reused or altered but still bears traces of its earlier form.
Synonyms
  • manuscript
  • scroll
  • document