First published 1921; not fully revised
uncialadjective & noun
Factsheet
What does the word uncial mean?
There are eight meanings listed in OED's entry for the word uncial. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
uncial has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
Entry status
OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.
How common is the word uncial?
About 0.1occurrences per million words in modern written English
| 1750 | 0.015 |
| 1760 | 0.041 |
| 1770 | 0.06 |
| 1780 | 0.061 |
| 1790 | 0.086 |
| 1800 | 0.1 |
| 1810 | 0.16 |
| 1820 | 0.2 |
| 1830 | 0.2 |
| 1840 | 0.21 |
| 1850 | 0.25 |
| 1860 | 0.27 |
| 1870 | 0.28 |
| 1880 | 0.25 |
| 1890 | 0.25 |
| 1900 | 0.25 |
| 1910 | 0.25 |
| 1920 | 0.22 |
| 1930 | 0.2 |
| 1940 | 0.18 |
| 1950 | 0.16 |
| 1960 | 0.14 |
| 1970 | 0.12 |
| 1980 | 0.11 |
| 1990 | 0.1 |
| 2000 | 0.089 |
| 2010 | 0.089 |
What is the etymology of the word uncial?
uncial is a borrowing from Latin.
Etymons: Latin unciālis.
What is the earliest known use of the word uncial?
Earliest known use
mid 1600s
The earliest known use of the word uncial is in the mid 1600s.
OED's earliest evidence for uncial is from 1650, in the writing of J. Wyberd.
How is the word uncial pronounced?
British English
/ˈʌn(t)siəl/
UN-see-uhl
/ˈʌnʃl/
UN-shuhl
U.S. English
/ˈəntʃəl/
UN-chuhl
/ˈən(t)siəl/
UN-see-uhl
Nearby entries
- unchristly, adj.1880–
- unchronicled, adj.1610–
- unchronological, adj.1763–
- unchurch, v.a1620–
- unchurched, adj.1681–
- unchurching, n.1655–
- unchurching, adj.1681–
- unchurchlike, adj.1642–
- unchurchly, adj.1815–
- uncia, n.1695–
- uncial, adj. & n.1650–
- uncialize, v.1883–
- uncially, adv.1650–
- unciary, adj.1586
- uncicatrized, adj.1839–
- unciform, adj. & n.1733–
- unciliated, adj.1851–
- uncinariasis, n.1902–
- uncinate, adj. & n.1760–
- uncinated, adj.1752–
- uncinch, v.1891–
Etymology
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Meaning & use
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Pronunciation
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Frequency
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List of compounds & derived words
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Entry history for uncial, adj. & n.
uncial, adj. & n. was first published in 1921; not fully revised.
uncial, adj. & n. was last modified in September 2026.
Revision of the OED is a long-term project, and oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Entries which have not been fully revised may include partial interim updates, including:
- corrections and revisions to definitions, especially to improve clarity, accuracy, or intelligibility;
- new or updated quotation evidence, and reverified or redated bibliographical information;
- new or updated pronunciations (transcriptions and audio files);
- new or revised etymological information and improved coverage of variant spellings;
- new senses or phrases added in print and online updates since OED2 (1989).
Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into uncial, adj. & n. in September 2026.
Earlier versions of this entry were published in:
OED First Edition (1921)
OED Second Edition (1989)
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Chicago 18
Oxford English Dictionary, “,” , .
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MLA 9
“” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, , .
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APA 7
Oxford University Press. (n.d.). In Oxford English dictionary. Retrieved , from
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Citation details
Factsheet for uncial, adj. & n.
Browse entry
Nearby entries
- unchristly, adj.1880–
- unchronicled, adj.1610–
- unchronological, adj.1763–
- unchurch, v.a1620–
- unchurched, adj.1681–
- unchurching, n.1655–
- unchurching, adj.1681–
- unchurchlike, adj.1642–
- unchurchly, adj.1815–
- uncia, n.1695–
- uncial, adj. & n.1650–
- uncialize, v.1883–
- uncially, adv.1650–
- unciary, adj.1586
- uncicatrized, adj.1839–
- unciform, adj. & n.1733–
- unciliated, adj.1851–
- uncinariasis, n.1902–
- uncinate, adj. & n.1760–
- uncinated, adj.1752–
- uncinch, v.1891–
