Word of the Week 4: Palimpsest

Meaning: A palimpsest is something that’s been reused or altered but still bears traces of its earlier form. Originally, it referred to a manuscript page that had been scraped clean and written over again. Now, it’s used metaphorically for cities, ideas, or memories where the past is still faintly visible under the present.

Etymology: It comes from Latin palimpsestus, which itself came from Greek palimpsēstos (“scraped again”): palin = “again” + psēn = “to rub smooth.” Medieval scribes used palimpsests to save precious parchment.

Example in a Sentence: “The city was a palimpsest of architectural styles, where medieval walls peeked out beneath glass towers.”