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Webster 1913 Edition


Postil

Pos′til

,
Noun.
[F.
postille
,
apostille
, LL.
postilla
, probably from L.
post illa
(sc.
verba
) after those (words). Cf.
Apostil
.]
1.
Originally, an explanatory note in the margin of the Bible, so called because written after the text; hence, a marginal note; a comment.
Langton also made
postils
upon the whole Bible.
Foxe.
2.
(R. C. Ch. & Luth. Ch.)
A short homily or commentary on a passage of Scripture;
as, the first
postils
were composed by order of Charlemagne
.

Pos′til

,
Verb.
T.
[Cf. LL.
postillare
.]
To write marginal or explanatory notes on; to gloss.
Bacon.

Pos′til

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Postiled
([GREEK]) or
Postilled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Postiling
or
Postilling
.]
To write postils, or marginal notes; to comment; to postillate.
Postiling
and allegorizing on Scripture.
J. H. Newman.

Webster 1828 Edition


Postil

POS'TIL

,
Noun.
[L. post.] A marginal note; originally, a note in the margin of the Bible, so called because written after the text.

POS'TIL

,
Verb.
T.
To write marginal notes; to gloss; to illustrate with marginal notes.

Definition 2024


postil

postil

English

Noun

postil (plural postils)

  1. (archaic) A Bible commentary written in its margins.
  2. A marginal note.
  3. A short homily or commentary on a passage of Scripture.
  4. A collection of homilies.
Related terms
Translations

Etymology 2

From Late Latin postillo

Verb

postil (third-person singular simple present postils, present participle postiling or postilling, simple past and past participle postiled or postilled)

  1. (transitive) To write marginal or explanatory notes on; to gloss.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Francis Bacon to this entry?)
  2. (intransitive) To write postils, or marginal notes; to comment; to postillate.

References

  • postil in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

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