Tomus

Tomus is a Latin noun meaning a volume or tome, used primarily in bibliographic and scholarly contexts to denote a single part of a larger multi-volume work. The word derives from the Greek tomos, meaning a section or slice, and entered Latin with the same sense. In Latin grammar, tomus is masculine and of the second declension. Its singular forms are tomus (nom.), tomi (gen.), tomo (dat./abl.), tomum (acc.); the plural forms are tomi (nom.), tomorum (gen.), tomis (dat./abl.), tomos (acc.). The plural noun tomi is often seen in catalog entries and in references to multiple volumes.

Usage and examples: in classical and medieval titles, one frequently encounters phrases such as Tomus I or Tomus primus to indicate the first volume, followed by Tomus II, Tomus III, and so on. In scholarly editions and library catalogs, tomus is commonly abbreviated as Tom. or Tomus, though many modern English texts prefer volume or vol.

Modern usage: while contemporary English-language bibliographies typically use volume or vol., tomus continues to appear in Latin-styled titles, historical editions, and in some non-English catalogs or academic references that preserve original Latin terminology. It remains relevant for understanding older scholarly works and bibliographic traditions.

See also: Volume (book), Tome. Etymology: from Greek tomos via Latin tomus.