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Copyist - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A copyist is a person who makes written copies of documents or manuscripts by hand. This role was especially important before printing technology became widely available.

copyist

/ˈkɑpiɪst/ /ˈkɒpiɪst/

Definition:

A person who makes copies, especially of documents or artistic works.

Synonyms:

scribe, transcriber, duplicator

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

original creator, innovator

Common Collocations:

skilled copyist, professional copyist, medieval copyist

Derivatives:

copyism, copyistic

Usage Tips:

Use "copyist" to describe someone who replicates texts or artworks, not the original creator.

Common Phrases:

master copyist, anonymous copyist, court copyist

Etymology:

Derived from Latin "copia" (abundance) and suffix "-ist," meaning one who copies.

Examples:

  • 1. The museum hired a skilled copyist to reproduce the ancient manuscript.
  • 2. A medieval copyist spent years transcribing religious texts by hand.
  • 3. She worked as a copyist for a famous artist, replicating his paintings.
  • 4. The library preserves both originals and copies made by a 19th-century copyist.

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