Alphabeticall

Alphabeticall is an archaic spelling of the English adjective alphabetical, attested in Early Modern English. The form reflects historical orthographic practices before the standardization of English spelling in the 18th century, when writers widely varied in how sounds and morphemes were represented in print.

Etymology and form: The word derives from the same root as present-day alphabetic and alphabetical, ultimately from Latin alphabeticus and Greek alphabetikos, itself from alphabetos. The particular ending in Alphabeticall, with the double 'l', is characteristic of older English spelling conventions and does not alter the meaning of the word. Over time, the spelling shifted toward alphabetical, which became the dominant form.

Usage and context: In surviving texts, Alphabeticall appears in discussions of order, arrangement, or classification by letters. It can be found in descriptions such as alphabeticall order or in phrases that convey an alphabet-based approach. Spelling variation was commonplace, and Alphabeticall coexisted with other variants like alphabetical or alphabetik in different regions and printings.

Significance: The existence of Alphabeticall illustrates how pre-standardization English accommodated diverse spellings for the same morpheme. Studying such forms helps scholars understand historical typography, printing practices, and the development of English orthography.

See also: Alphabet, Alphabetical order, Early Modern English spelling.

Note: Alphabeticall is primarily of interest to historical linguistics and philology, rather than as a currently used term.