▪ I. paraph, n.
(ˈpæræf)
Also 4–5 paraf, 5 -affe.
[a. F. paraphe, parafe, also 15th c. parraphe, -affe, paraffe = It. paˈrafo, med.L. paˈraphus, shortened form of paragraphus: see paragraph.]
† 1. A paragraph. Obs.
| 1395 Purvey Remonstr. (1851) 15 Hostiance, in the paraf ‘Quid si clericus’, seith [etc.]. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 382/1 Paraf of a booke (H. or paragraf..), paraphus, paragraphus. 1483 Cath. Angl. 269/1 A Paraffe, paragraphus. |
† 2. (?) A paragraph mark on the margin. Obs.
| 14.. A.B.C. Poem 8 in Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1866) 244 Wrout is on þe bok with-oute, .v. paraffys grete & stoute Bolyd in rose red. Ibid. 19 Grete paraffys, þat be wondis .v. |
3. Diplomatics. A flourish made after a signature, originally as a kind of precaution against forgery.
| 1584 D. Powel Lloyd's Cambria 9 That character which the Lawyers do call a Paraph. 1656 Blount Glossogr. [from Cotgr.], Paraph, the flourish or peculiar Knot or mark set unto, after, or instead of, a name in the signing a Deed or Letter. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl. s.v., The Paraph of the Kings of France is a grate, which the secretaries always place before their own, in all letters, etc. 1842 Brande Dict. Sci., etc., s.v., In some countries (as in Spain) the paraph is still a usual addition to a signature. 1895 Daily News 17 Dec. 5/1 [Signature of Fr. Bacon] The paraphe is a loop-headed triangle, with a lozenge below. |
▪ II. paraph, v.
(ˈpæræf)
[f. prec. n.: cf. F. parapher (1565 in Hatz.-Darm.) in sense 2.]
† 1. trans. To divide into paragraphs. Obs.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 382/1 Parafyd, paragraphatus. Paraffyn, paragrapho. |
2. To affix a paraph to; hence, to sign, esp. with initials; to initial.
| 1667 Evelyn Publ. Employm. To Rdr., I have yet pursued my antagonist, rightly paraff'd and compared. 1856 tr. Draft Prelim. Peace Vienna 1 Feb., The undersigned, after having paraphed it conformably to authorization..have agreed that [etc.]. |