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Where does the word "imprimatur" come from? It comes from Modern Latin imprimātur, and was adopted directly into English (1640s).
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Where does the word "imprimatur" come from? It comes from Modern Latin imprimātur, and was adopted directly into English (1640s).
Imprimatur’s story begins in Modern Latin: imprimātur meant “let it be printed.” 'let it be printed', the formula by which Catholic Church censors licensed books after the invention of printing. It reached English by 1640s as imprimatur. John Milton's 'Areopagitica' (1644) mocked the imprimaturs required under England's licensing laws. Today, imprimatur means an official licence to print a book; official approval.
- Stage 1 · Modern Latin · 1500s imprimātur "let it be printed", 'let it be printed', the formula by which Catholic Church censors licensed books after the invention of printing.
- Stage 2 · English · 1640s imprimatur "official approval", John Milton's 'Areopagitica' (1644) mocked the imprimaturs required under England's licensing laws.