black-letter
Old German script
Black-letter describes the style of heavy, angular typeface used in early printed books and still associated with German texts and formal documents.
Black-letter law refers to legal principles so well established they're beyond dispute—the kind once printed in authoritative texts: It's black-letter law that contracts require consideration.
The term suggests settled doctrine rather than contested interpretation.
Angular medieval typeface style
- uncialRounded ancient letterform
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
- scriptWritten words for performance
- typefaceLettering style design
font · serif · majuscule · minuscule · ligature · glyph · illuminated · manuscript
Enacted written rule
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- precedentPrior authoritative example
- jurisprudencePhilosophy governing legal systems
- bindingLegally or morally required
canonical · settled · established · hornbook · rule · principle · strict · narrow
Original text before publication
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- scriptoriumMonastery manuscript workshop
- scribeManual document copier
illuminated · vellum · chronicle · monastic · medieval · incunabula · Gutenberg · printing
blackletter
Angular medieval typeface style
- uncialRounded ancient letterform
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
- scriptWritten words for performance
typeface · font · serif · majuscule · minuscule · ligature · glyph · illuminated · manuscript · incunabula
statute
Enacted written rule
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- precedentPrior authoritative example
- jurisprudencePhilosophy governing legal systems
binding · canonical · settled · established · hornbook · rule · principle · strict · narrow · codified
manuscript
Original text before publication
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- scriptoriumMonastery manuscript workshop
scribe · illuminated · vellum · chronicle · monastic · medieval · incunabula · Gutenberg · printing · folio
black-letterroman
Upright letter style
humanist · serif · modern · sans-serif · grotesque
black-letterequitable
Just and unbiased
spirit of the law · judicial discretion · case-by-case · natural law · common law
black, letter, blacker, blackest, blacken, blackened, blackening, blacks, blackness