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Definition of pamphlet - 5 dictionary results

pam⋅phlet

[pam-flit]
–noun
1. a complete publication of generally less than 80 pages stitched or stapled together and usually having a paper cover.
2. a short treatise or essay, generally a controversial tract, on some subject of contemporary interest: a political pamphlet.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME pamflet < AL panfletus, pamfletus, syncopated var. of Pamphiletus, dim. of ML Pamphilus, title of a 12th-century Latin comedy. See -et


pam⋅phlet⋅ar⋅y, adjective
pam·phlet   (pām'flĭt)   
n.  
  1. An unbound printed work, usually with a paper cover.
  2. A short essay or treatise, usually on a current topic, published without a binding.

[Middle English pamflet, from Medieval Latin pamfletus, from Pamphiletus, diminutive of Pamphilus, amatory Latin poem of the 12th century, from Greek pamphilos, beloved by all : pan-, pan- + philos, beloved.]
pam'phlet·ar'y (pām'flĭ-těr'ē) adj.

Pamphlet

Pam"phlet\, n. [OE. pamflet, pamfilet, paunflet, possibly fr. OF. palme the palm of the hand, F. paume (see Palm) + OF. fueillet a leaf, dim. of fueil, m., F. feuille, f., fr. L. folium, pl. folia, thus meaning, a leaf to be held in the hand; or perh. through old French, fr. L. Pamphila, a female historian of the first century who wrote many epitomes; prob., however, fr. OF. Pamflette, the Old French name given to Pamphilus, a poem in Latin verse of the 12th century, pamphlets being named from the popularity of this poem.]

1. A writing; a book. --Testament of love.

Sir Thomas More in his pamphlet of Richard the Third. --Ascham.

2. A small book consisting of a few sheets of printed paper, stitched together, often with a paper cover, but not bound; a short essay or written discussion, usually on a subject of current interest.

Pamphlet

Pam"phlet\, v. i. To write a pamphlet or pamphlets. [R.] --Howell.
Language Translation for : pamphlet
Spanish: panfleto, folleto,
German: die Flugschrift,
Japanese: パンフレット

pamphlet 
"small, unbound treatise," 1387, from Anglo-Latin panfletus, popular short form of "Pamphilus, seu de Amore" ("Pamphilus, or about Love"), a short L. love poem of 12c., popular and widely copied in Middle Ages; the name from Gk. pamphilos "loved by all," from pan- "all" + philos "loving, dear." Meaning "brief work dealing with questions of current interest" is late 16c. Pamphleteer (n.) is first recorded 1642.
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