English Explanatory Dictionary

palimpsestuous

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Pertaining to the textual relationality of a palimpsest; referential to earlier works or self-referential between several meanings of a single text.

Word forms

palimpsestuous more palimpsestuous most palimpsestuous palimpcestuous palincestuous

Etymology

From palimpsest + -ous by surface analysis, but also a humorous blend of palimpsest (“a text with several layers”) + incestuous (“involving relationships between related things”). Coined by Anthony Burgess (as palimpcestuous, with a suggested alternative form palincestuous to make the connection with incestuous clearer) to describe self-reference and the use of wordplay in the works of James Joyce.

Related words

palimpsestic
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