comprintn.
A modern dictionary figment, founded on the loose wording of the explanation of the verb in the law dictionaries at comprint v. 2.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
† comprintv.
Obsolete. rare.
1. To share in printing. Used in 17th cent. of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, as being entitled to share with the King's Printer, and Stationers' Company, in printing privileged books.
a. transitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > [verb (transitive)] > share in printing
comprint1634
1634 Tanner MS. in J. Gutch Collectanea Curiosa (1781) I. 284 Cambridge hath liberty of comprinting, with the King's Printers, and Company of Stationers, these privileged books following: 1. The Bible..and the singing Psalms. 2. Grammars. 3. All other School books. 4. Almanacks.
1684 J. Wallis in J. Gutch Collectanea Curiosa (1781) I. 280 After the wars [c1650–60] the University Printers did, for some time, continue to comprint privileged books at Oxford, as well as those at London.
1684 J. Wallis in J. Gutch Collectanea Curiosa (1781) I. 281 The Universities Right to print or comprint Bibles.
b. absol. or intransitive.
ΚΠ
1678–9 in J. Gutch Collectanea Curiosa (1781) I. 276 The King's Printers refusing to pay the usual rent to them [the University of Oxford] for their forbearance of comprinting [of Bibles].
2. The following misuse of the word inserted by Kersey in his ed. of Phillips, 1706, has been copied from Dictionary to Dictionary ever since; in some it is even given to the exclusion of the correct meaning. From Kersey it was adopted also by Giles Jacob in his New Law Dict., 1729, and has been handed on by Tomlins, Wharton, etc.In Tomlins, Wharton, etc.
ΚΠ
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) (App. 11, ‘A Collection of such Affected Words from the Latin or Greek as are either to be used warily, and upon occasion only, or totally to be rejected as barbarous’) Comprint, to print another's Copy.]
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) To Comprint (Law-Term), this Word properly signifies to print together; but is commonly taken for the Deceitful Printing of another's Copy, or Book, by Stealth, to the prejudice of the rightful Proprietor.
1708 J. Kersey Dict. Anglo-Britannicum To Comprint, (L[aw] T[erm]) properly to print together; but 'tis commonly taken for the deceitful Printing of another's Copy. [Hence (with modifications) in Bailey 1721–, Johnson 1755–, and recent Dictionaries.]
1729 G. Jacob New Law-dict. Comprint intends a surreptitious printing of another Bookseller's Copy, to make Gain thereby, which is contrary to the Stat. 14 Car. II. c. 33, and other Statutes. [But the subject is not mentioned in the Statute cited.]
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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n.v.1634