Definitions for boustrophedon
ˌbu strəˈfid n, -ˈfi dɒn, ˌbaʊ-bous·tro·phe·don

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. boustrophedonnoun

   an ancient writing system: having alternate lines written in opposite directions; literally `as the ox ploughs'

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. boustrophedonadverb

   of writing, in a fashion such that the reading direction changes from right-to-left to left-to-right every line.

2. boustrophedonadjective

   written from right-to-left and left-to-right on alternate lines

3. boustrophedonadjective

   changing direction, going back and forth

4. Etymology: From βουστροφηδόν, from βοῦς + στροφή + -δον.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Boustrophedon

   Boustrophedon is a style of writing in which alternate lines of writing are reversed, with letters also written in reverse, mirror-style. This is in contrast to modern European languages, where lines always begin on the same side, usually the left. The original term comes from Ancient Greek: βουστροφηδόν, boustrophēdón, a composite of βοῦς, bous, "ox"; στροφή, strophḗ, "turn"; and the adverbial suffix -δόν, -dón, "like, in the manner of" – that is, "like the ox turns [while plowing]". It is mostly seen in ancient manuscripts and other inscriptions. It was a common way of writing on stone in ancient Greece, becoming less and less popular throughout the Hellenistic period. Many ancient scripts, such as Etruscan, Safaitic, and Sabaean, were frequently or even typically written boustrophedon.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. boustrophedon

   Boustrophedon is a type of bi-directional text typically seen in ancient manuscripts and other inscriptions. It is written alternately right-to-left and left-to-right. The name comes from the Greek word "βουστροφηδόν," which means "as the ox turns," referring to the ox's path while plowing a field, moving in one direction then turning to move in the opposite direction.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Boustrophedonnoun

   an ancient mode of writing, in alternate directions, one line from left to right, and the next from right to left (as fields are plowed), as in early Greek and Hittite

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Boustrophedon

   Boustrophedon is a kind of bi-directional text, mostly seen in ancient manuscripts and other inscriptions. Every other line of writing is flipped or reversed, with reversed letters. Rather than going left-to-right as in modern English, or right-to-left as in Arabic and Hebrew, alternate lines in boustrophedon must be read in opposite directions. Also, the individual characters are reversed, or mirrored. The name "boustrophedon" is taken from the Greek language. Its etymology is from βούς, bous, "ox" + στρέφειν, strephein, "to turn", because the hand of the writer goes back and forth like an ox drawing a plough across a field and turning at the end of each row to return in the opposite direction. It was a common way of writing in stone in Ancient Greece.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Boustrophedon

   bow-strof-ē′don, adj. and adv. written ploughwise, alternately from right to left and from left to right—a form of alphabetic writing intermediate between the oldest Greek inscriptions (from right to left, as in Semitic scripts) and the more convenient method of left to right (from 7th century). [Gr.; bou-strophos, ox-turning.]

The New Hacker's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. boustrophedon

   [from a Greek word for turning like an ox while plowing] An ancient method of writing using alternate left-to-right and right-to-left lines. This term is actually philologists' techspeak and typesetters' jargon. Erudite hackers use it for an optimization performed by some computer typesetting software and moving-head printers. The adverbial form ‘boustrophedonically’ is also found (hackers purely love constructions like this).

Matched Categories

1. • Writing System

How to pronounce boustrophedon?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say boustrophedon in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of boustrophedon in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of boustrophedon in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=boustrophedon
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Boustrophedon
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boustrophedon
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boustrophedon
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=boustrophedon
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=boustrophedon
8. ^ The New Hacker's Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3008/3008-h/3008-h.htm#Boustrophedon