the earliest form of a text as established by linguistic scholars as a basis for variants in later texts still in existence
2.
an edition of a musical score showing the composer's intentions without later editorial interpolation
Word origin
from ur- original + text
urtext in American English
(ˈɜːrˌtekst, ˈur-)
noun
(sometimes cap)
the original form of a text, esp. of a musical composition
Word origin
[1950–55; ur-3 + text]This word is first recorded in the period 1950–55. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Common Market, action painting, conflict of interest, hot line, point spread