See Also: incipit(dictionary)

incipit (iou)



incipit noun. L19.
[Latin, 3rd person sing. pres. indic. of incipere (see INCIPIENT), used by medieval scribes to indicate the beginning of a new treatise, poem, division, etc.]
The opening words of a manuscript, a printed book (usu. an early one), a chanted liturgical text, etc. Cf. EXPLICIT noun.