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Webster 1913 Edition

Paraph

Par′aph

,
Noun.
[F.
paraphe
,
parafe
, contr. fr.
paragraphe
.]
A flourish made with the pen at the end of a signature. In the Middle Ages, this formed a sort of rude safeguard against forgery.
Brande & C.

Par′aph

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Paraphed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Paraphing
.]
[Cf. F.
parapher
,
parafer
.]
To add a paraph to; to sign, esp. with the initials.

Definition 2024

paraph

paraph

English

Noun

Benjamin Franklin's signature, showing paraph

paraph ‎(plural paraphs)

  1. (chiefly historical) A flourish made after or below one's signature, originally to prevent forgery.

Translations

Verb

paraph ‎(third-person singular simple present paraphs, present participle paraphing, simple past and past participle paraphed)

  1. (transitive) To add a paraph to; to sign, especially with one's initials.

References

  • “paraph” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.
  • “paraph” in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.
  • "paraph" in WordNet 3.0, Princeton University, 2006.
  • (etymology) Paraphe, based on the Collins French-English Dictionary, Harpercollins, Flexible edition, August 1990, ISBN 0062755080.
  • Paraph, ArtLex Art Dictionary, Michael Delahu, The earliest form of ArtLex appeared on the Web in August, 19; ArtLex was last modified on October 24, 2007, Copyright © 1996-2007.

Etymology

John Hancock's signature on the United States Declaration of Independence is famous for its size and its bold paraph.

From Middle French paraphe, paraffe.

Pronunciation

Elizabeth I of England's signature, showing paraph
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpaɹəf/

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