Scribal abbreviation

Malmesbury Abbey early 15th-century Latin Vulgate Bible manuscript of Book of Numbers 1:24-26 with many abbreviations, 1407. Lines 2 and 3 with expansions between [..]:
g[u]lor[um] a vigi[n]ti a[n]nis [e]t sup[ra] o[mn]es
qui ad bella p[ro]cedere[n]t: ((verse 25)) q[ua]dragi[n].
Scribal abbreviation "iħm xp̄m ⁊ dm̄" for "ihesum christum et deum" in a manuscript of the Epistle to the Galatians

Scribal abbreviations, or sigla (singular: siglum), are abbreviations used by ancient and medieval scribes writing in various languages, including Latin, Greek, Old English and Old Norse.

In modern manuscript editing (substantive and mechanical) sigla are the symbols used to indicate the source manuscript (e.g. variations in text between different such manuscripts).


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