Abbreviation in Latin Manuscripts

EPIGRAPHIC ANTECEDENTS

IMP[ERATORI] CAESARI DIVI NERVAE FILIO
NERVAE TRAIANO OPTIMO AUG[USTO]
GERMANICO DACIO PONT[IFICI] MAX[IMO] TRIB[UNICIA]
POTES[TATE] XVIII IMP[ERATORI] VII CO[N]S[ULI] VI P[ATRI] P[ATRIAE]
FORTISSIMO PRINCIPI SENATUS P[OPULUS]Q[UE R[OMANUS]

(Image from http://www.dl.ket.org/latin2/grammar/inscriptions.htm)

NOMINA SACRA

London, British Library, MS Add. 89000, f. 1r (England, 698)

Screen Shot 2016-04-17 at 3.06.34 PM — London, British Library, MS Add. 89000, f. 3v. (detail)

Screen Shot 2016-04-17 at 3.07.35 PM — London, British Library, MS Add. 89000, f. 4r. (detail)

Screen Shot 2016-04-17 at 3.08.21 PM — London, British Library, MS Add. 89000, f. 4r. (detail)

THE COMMON MARK OF ABBREVIATION (TITULUS)

SUSPENSIONS . CONTRACTIONS . P-ABBREVIATIONS

Baltimore, Walters Art Museum, MS W.4 , f. 38r (Germany, ca. 875) — Baltimore, Walters Art Museum, MS W.4, f. 38r. (Germany, ca. 875)

Link to fol. 24r

SPECIALIZED MARKS OF SUSPENSION

LIGATURES VS. ABBREVIATIONS

Baltimore, Walters Art Museum, W.12. f. 5r (Germany, mid-12th c.) — Baltimore, Walters Art Museum, W.12. f. 5r. (Germany, mid-12th c.)

DEGREE OF ABBREVIATION

ABBREVIATION BY ARBITRARY SIGN

Baltimore, Walters Art Museum, W.30. f. 6v (Austria, second half of 12th c.) — Baltimore, Walters Art Museum, W.30. f. 6v. (Austria, second half of 12th c.)

SCHOLASTIC SCRIBBLES

London, British Library, MS Harley 3704, f. 35r (detail). (Germany, 1339-40)