Meanings
singular marginale · singular marginalium
- pluralplural normallyNotes in the margin of a document.First known use 1830s
We know what the composer was thinking as he wrote the piece because we can read his handwritten marginalia on the manuscript.
1 more example
In so doing, he transforms the Foxian compulsion to distinguish true martyrs from false ones —and thus to differentiate his own saint-making project from medieval hagiography—into a model of textual criticism, directed at detecting and desanctifying the false martyr through the critical medium of marginalia.
2008, Jennifer Summit, Memory's Library: Medieval Books in Early Modern England, page 170Synonyms: apostil, marginal note, gloss
Synonyms & antonyms
nounNotes in the margin of a document.
Origin
- Latinmargō“border, edge”
- New Latinmarginālia
- Englishmarginalia
From New Latin marginālia (cf. margināle (neuter singular (adjective / noun)), from Medieval Latin neuter plural of marginālis (“on the periphery”), from Latin margō (“border, edge”). By surface analysis, marginal + -ia. Compare margin.
More words from New Latin, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic مُلَاحَظَة هَامِشِيَّة
- مُلَاحَظَة هَامِشِيَّةnotes in the margin of document — see also marginal note
Bulgarian забележка в полето
- забележка в полето (zabeležka v poleto)notes in the margin of document — see also marginal note
German Randnote
- Randnotenotes in the margin of document — see also marginal note
Polish marginalia
- marginalianotes in the margin of document — see also marginal note
Portuguese notas à margem, nota à margem
- notas à margemnotes in the margin of document — see also marginal note
- nota à margemnotes in the margin of document — see also marginal note
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with marginalia
Cite this entry
marginalia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/marginalia
“marginalia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/marginalia. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “marginalia,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/marginalia.
Source: marginalia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.