Nerd Word of the Day archive

PAL-imp-sest · noun

palimpsest

A surface or document reused after earlier writing was erased, often leaving traces behind.

Where the word comes from

From Greek palimpsēstos, meaning “scraped again,” via Latin.

In a sentence

“The old theater was a palimpsest of renovations, with traces of every era still visible.”

Check the word history

Merriam-Webster dictionary entry for palimpsest