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cor·pus

(kôrpəs)

n. pl. cor·po·ra (-pər-ə)

1. A large collection of writings of a specific kind or on a specific subject.

2. A collection of writings or recorded remarks used for linguistic analysis.

3. Economics

a. The capital or principal amount, as of an estate or trust.

b. The principal of a bond.

4. Anatomy

a. The main part of a bodily structure or organ.

b. A distinct bodily mass or organ having a specific function.

5. The overall length of a violin.

[Middle English, from Latin; see k^wrep- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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