Literature Desk
21 September 2025, 08:00 AM IST
Whether in texts, cities, or our own memories, the word palimpsest captures the art of hidden layers and silent echoes
Word of the day: PALIMPSEST
Pronunciaton: pa·limp·sest UK/ˈpæl.ɪm.sest/ US/ˈpæl.ɪmp.sest/
Meaning
A palimpsest is a manuscript or document that has been written on more than once, with the earlier writing scraped or washed off to make space for new text.
Origin and History
The word palimpsest originates from the Greek word ‘palimpsēstos’, meaning rubbed again or scraped again.
This term, in turn, is derived from palin (again) and psēstos (rubbed smooth).
The word was adopted into Latin as ‘palimpsestus’ and eventually entered English in the 17th century.
Examples from literature
“Just know that history is like a palimpsest manuscript. Know what that is?” – The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton
And then, deeper in the palimpsest, underneath the announcement signal and the primer, would be the real message. – Cosmos by Carl Sagan
Synonyms
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