bibliotaphy [n. BIB-lee-oh-TAF-ee]

[threeplusfire]

Bibliotaphy is the practice of hoarding or hiding books, and someone who engages in bibliotaphy is a bibliotaph.

Like many "bookish" words, this one includes the biblio- prefix, from the Greek biblion (book), which also gave us Bible. The suffix, -taphy, is from Greek taphos (tomb), since the books hoarded or hidden might as well be entombed.

Another word from taphos is cenotaph [n. SEN-uh-taf] (an empty tomb that commemorates someone who is actually buried elsewhere), with the prefix ceno- from Greek kenos (empty).

Here are more "bookish" words:

bibliopegy: the art of binding books
bibliopolist: a seller of books, especially rare or used ones
bibliotics: examination of documents for authenticity

Comments

[medusadreaming.livejournal.com]

oh, cool... i am definitely a bibliotaph. according to the library, i am a "delinquent borrower" because i never ever get my books back on time and they have to send me notice after notice. well, i returned all of the books that i wish were mine today, and got out five more. i wonder what someone who takes a book from almost every teacher she's ever had is called? (usually they lend it to me and i forget to return it, but they are more understanding and/or forgetful than the library). anyway, nice post. didn't mean to ramble on. =)

rambling is encouraged

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

I don't have many of the actual books my teachers lent me, but I do have a continuing love for many of them. Especially the Somerset Maugham my journalism teacher loaned me, and the book about Sylvia Beech & James Joyce. Ahh, inspiration.

One of my secret reasons for wanting to be a professor is the extended library privileges and not having to pay fines. ;)

Re: rambling is encouraged

[medusadreaming.livejournal.com]

yes, that would be wonderful. i've been thinking about being a professor more and more as time goes on... but not until i've traveled and done everything i want to do. books are lovely, aren't they? =)