˜yÐÄvlog

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boustrophedon

[ boo-struh-feed-n, -fee-don, bou- ]

noun

  1. an ancient method of writing in which the lines run alternately from right to left and from left to right.


boustrophedon

/ ËŒbuËstrəˈfiËdÉ™n; ËŒbaÊŠ- /

adjective

  1. having alternate lines written from right to left and from left to right
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of boustrophedon1

First recorded in 1775–85; from Greek ²ú´Ç³Ü²õ³Ù°ù´Ç±è³óŧ»åó²Ô literally, “like an ox turning (in plowing),†equivalent to bou- (stem of ²ú´Çû²õ ) “bull, cow, ox†+ -²õ³Ù°ù´Ç±è³óŧ- + -don adverb suffix; cow 1( def ), strophe
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of boustrophedon1

C17: from Greek, literally: turning as in ploughing with oxen, from bous ox + -²õ³Ù°ù´Ç±è³óŧ»å´Ç²Ô from strephein to turn; see strophe
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Many ancient Greek inscriptions use a method of writing called boustrophedon, or “ox-turning,†in which every other line of text is inverted.

From

Left to right, right to left, perhaps both like writing called “boustrophedon†— back and forth, as an ox plows?

From

It is noteworthy that the inscriptions, with the exception of the bowl brought from Babylon, are all in relief and boustrophedon.

From

Some writing systems, like the ancient Greeks’ boustrophedon, in which alternate lines are read in opposite directions, appear to actually support these pre-literay inclinations.

From

You dimly discern the majestic form of a venerable man stooping above a coffer of cedar and ivory, carved with the exploits of the goddess, and with boustrophedon inscriptions.

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