English Language Learners Sign up Log in

Questions Tags Users Badges Ask

3 What is the difference between a "book" and a "tome"?

meaning meaning-in-context word-meaning definition

Can anybody tell me if there is a difference in meaning and/or usage of "a book" vs "a tome"?

So far, I found on the internet that:

a book is a general, versatile term

a tome is an unusually thick book

Is that correct?

Thanks!

Share Improve this question Follow

nshct asked
133 ● 1 ● 5 Oct 7 '16 at 21:43

3 Yes, it is correct. – Lambie Oct 7 '16 at 21:52

1 Tome in modern usage often connotes mild sarcasm in reference to a very long or challenging book: Our
professor assigned one of Malinowski's tomes for reading in our anthro course. – P. E. Dant Reinstate
Monica Oct 7 '16 at 22:19

Add a comment

2 Answers order by votes

:
 Tome (n.) is an old term which is used to indicate a large, heavy book:
4

1510s, "a single volume of a multi-volume work," from Middle French

tome (16c.), from Latin tomus. Sense of "a large book" is attested
from 1570s.

(Etymonline)

Share Improve this answer Follow

user5267 answered
Oct 7 '16 at 22:09

So the Lord of the Rings 3 volumes printed as one book, would be considered a tome by this definition?
That's the only book I can think of that is 1 book, usually published as 3 volumes. This definition seems a
bit hyper-specific. – RexxiA Jun 22 '20 at 6:04

Add a comment

As Merriam-Webster tells us, a tome may be:

1
1. A large or scholarly book.

2. A volume forming part of a larger work.

Thus tome is a hyponim of book. However, now tome mostly means just a very thick
book, perhaps with an ironical connotation.

Share Improve this answer Follow

olegst answered
1,266 ● 9 ● 18 May 23 '17 at 14:23

Your Answer

Body
:
 Add picture

Log in

OR

Name

Email

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Post Your Answer

meta chat tour help blog privacy policy legal contact us full site
2021 Stack Exchange, Inc. user contributions under cc by-sa
: