Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day – “marginalia” (January 5, 2026)
Episode Overview
This episode’s main theme is the exploration of the word “marginalia,” its definition, origins, historical use, and cultural significance, making it both an educational and engaging dive into a relatively uncommon but evocative word.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Definition and Pronunciation
- Marginalia (noun, plural): Notes or other marks written in the margins of a text; also refers to non-essential matters or items.
- Spelling: M A R G I N A L I A
[00:10] “Marginalia is a noun. It's a plural noun that refers to notes or other marks written in the margins of a text and also to non-essential matters or items.”
2. Illustrative Example and Historical Context
- Marginalia have played significant roles in history and scholarship.
- Leonardo da Vinci: Famous for marginal notes in his Codex Arundel, where thoughts on gravity predated Galileo’s work.
- The mention underscores how crucial such notations can be for historical discoveries.
[00:29] “From scientific marginalia have a long history. Leonardo da Vinci famously scribbled thoughts about gravity years before Galileo Galilei published his magnum opus on the subject. The discovery was waiting under our noses in the margins of Leonardo's Codex Arundel.”
3. Literary Reference
- Edgar Allan Poe: Cited as an aficionado of marginalia, with a direct quote from his essay "Marginalia," emphasizing the importance of margin notes.
- Poe enjoyed books with ample margins, not for the blank space itself but for the opportunity to jot down thoughts and critiques.
[00:44] Quoted from Poe’s essay:
“In getting my books, I have always been solicitous of an ample margin. This not so much through any love of the thing in itself, however agreeable, as for the facility it affords me of penciling suggested thoughts, agreements and differences of opinion, or brief critical comments in general.”
4. Etymology and Usage Evolution
- The word marginalia was relatively new in Poe’s time (1844), even though the practice dated back centuries.
- The first use was only a few decades before Poe's essay.
- Historically, the word "apostille" referred to a single notation, but it has fallen out of favor.
[01:30] “At the time the essay was first published, in 1844, marginalia was only a few decades old, despite describing something new—notes in the margin of a text that had existed for centuries.”
[01:46] “An older word, apostille, refers to a single annotation made in a margin, but that word is rarely used today.”
5. Marginalia as a Reading Habit
- Marginalia as a sign of engagement with a book—evidence of prior readers’ thoughts.
- Whether or not listeners share Poe’s enthusiasm, many will recognize the value and curiosity sparked by finding marginal notes in pre-owned books.
[01:56] “Even if you are not, like Poe, simply ravenous for scribbling in your own books, you likely know marginalia as a telltale sign that someone has read a particular volume before you.”
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
- On definition and historical significance:
- “Marginalia is a noun. It's a plural noun that refers to notes or other marks written in the margins of a text and also to non-essential matters or items.” [00:10]
- “Leonardo da Vinci famously scribbled thoughts about gravity years before Galileo Galilei published his magnum opus on the subject. The discovery was waiting under our noses in the margins of Leonardo's Codex Arundel.” [00:29]
- Literary highlight – Poe’s perspective:
- “In getting my books, I have always been solicitous of an ample margin… for the facility it affords me of penciling suggested thoughts, agreements and differences of opinion, or brief critical comments in general.” – Edgar Allan Poe [00:44]
Important Segment Timestamps
- [00:10] — Definition and usages of “marginalia”
- [00:29] — Historical anecdote: Leonardo da Vinci’s marginalia
- [00:44] — Edgar Allan Poe’s essay and philosophy on marginalia
- [01:30] — Etymology and first usages of “marginalia”
- [01:46] — Older word “apostille” and its rare usage today
- [01:56] — The universal experience of discovering marginalia
Final Thoughts
This episode skillfully combines etymology, literary history, and anecdotal curiosity to bring the word “marginalia” to life. With clear examples from both science (da Vinci) and literature (Poe), listeners are left with an enriched understanding of the value and intrigue found in even the smallest jottings at the edge of a page.
