Majuskel

Majuskel (v. : majusculus = somewhat more largely), Versalbuchstaben or Versal (Plural Versalien, v. lat.: versus = line, paragraph) is in that a technical term for large and at the same time one Kind of honor.

In that Palaeografie more generally calls one those alphabets majuskel, which are predominantly limited to a two-line pattern (z.B. Capitalis, Unziale).

One in the middle calls a capital letter in the word Binnenmajuskel.

Text in Versalschrift is usually badly readable, instead should Kapitaelchen are used.

Opposite: Minuskel

One differentiates:

• Greek majuskel (9. Jh. before Chr. to 3. Jh. before Chr.) in contrast to the Greek Unziale (starting from 3. Jh. v. Chr. to 12. Jh. n. Chr.) and the later Greek minuskel
• Roman majuskel (7. Jh. before Chr. to 4. Jh. after Chr.) in contrast to the Roman Unziale (4. Jh. to 8. Jh. n. Chr.), Halbunziale and minuskel
• karolingische majuskel (4. Jh.-8. Jh.) in contrast to the karolingischen minuskel (around 780-12. Jh.)
• gothical majuskel (13./14. Jh.) and the earlygothical (starting from end of 11.Jh. to 13. Jh.), gothical (14. Jh.) and lategothical (16. Jh.) face minuskeln.

See also: Initials