editio princeps

noun edi·tio prin·ceps \ā-ˌdi-tē-(ˌ)ō-ˈpriŋ-ˌkeps, i-ˌdi-shē-(ˌ)ō-ˈprin-ˌseps\

plural edi·ti·o·nes prin·ci·pes \ā-ˌdi-tē-ˈō-ˌnās-ˈpriŋ-kə-ˌpās, i-ˌdi-shē-ˈō-(ˌ)nēz-ˈprin(t)-sə-ˌpēz\

Definition of EDITIO PRINCEPS

: the first printed edition especially of a work that circulated in manuscript before printing became common

New Latin, literally, first edition

First Known Use: 1802

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