Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The branch of paleography that deals with the study of old official documents and determines their age and authenticity.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The science of diplomas, or of ancient writings, literary and public documents, letters, decrees, charters, codicils, etc., which has for its object to decipher such instruments, or to ascertain their authenticity, their date, signatures, etc.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The science of diplomas, or the art of deciphering ancient writings, and determining their age, authenticity, etc.; paleography.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The science of authenticating, dating, and interpreting old official documents.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Probably from Italian or Ecclesiastical Latin diplomatica

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Examples

  • The word diplomatics, following a Continental usage which long ago found recognition in Mabillon's "De Re Diplomaticâ", has of late come to denote also in English the science of ancient official documents, more especially of those emanating from the chanceries of popes, kings, emperors, and other authorities possessing a recognized jurisdiction.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 5: Diocese-Fathers of Mercy 1840-1916 1913

  • Will this type of diplomatics even be possible anymore?

    Archive 2008-01-01 Scribe 2008

  • Will this type of diplomatics even be possible anymore?

    Medieval manuscripts and born-digital Scribe 2008

  • They want to pursue diplomatics, and be part of the negotiations, and at the same time, resource the resistance, resource the Shia militias that provide resistance to the coalition.

    CNN Transcript Dec 7, 2006 2006

  • They want to pursue diplomatics and be part of the negotiations, and at the same time, resource the resistance, resource the Shia militias that provide resistance to the -- to the coalition.

    CNN Transcript Dec 7, 2006 2006

  • But, first, we want to turn our attention to the diplomatics -- the diplomatic efforts going under way.

    CNN Transcript Jul 25, 2006 2006

  • So I think diplomatics and businesspeople worldwide from the U.S. who are traveling have got to raise their level of individual protective measures.

    CNN Transcript Dec 15, 2002 2002

  • It can almost be regarded as the beginning of study of diplomatics.

    HISTORIOGRAPHY HERBERT BUTTERFIELD 1968

  • As Mabillon had created the science of diplomatics, so Montfaucon was the father of Greek palaeography, the principles of which he established by the rigour of his method in grouping his personal observations.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 10: Mass Music-Newman 1840-1916 1913

  • For the extensive literature on papal letters see works on papal diplomatics; GRISAR in Kirchenlex., s.v. Bullen und Breven (to 1884);

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 9: Laprade-Mass Liturgy 1840-1916 1913

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