diplomatics (ˌdɪpləˈmætɪks) ![]() | |
| —n | |
| 1. | the critical study of historical documents |
| 2. | a less common word for diplomacy |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
diplomatics
the study of documents. The term is derived from the Greek word diploma, meaning "doubled" or "folded." Besides the documents of legal and administrative import withwhich it is properly concerned, diplomatics also includes the study of other records such as bills, reports, cartularies, registers, and rolls. Diplomatics is therefore a basic and not simply an auxiliary historical science.
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