corrigent

Corrigent is an English noun referring to a person who corrects text, particularly in the preparation of manuscripts or proofs. The term is largely historical and is rarely used in modern publishing. In traditional manuscript culture and early print shops, a corrigent would be responsible for identifying and implementing errors, comparing text against author revisions, and ensuring corrected copies were produced for dissemination. The role overlaps with that of a proofreader or editor, but corrigents are most often encountered in archival or bibliographic discussions of past practices rather than as contemporary job titles.

Etymology and origins: Corrigent derives from the French verb corriger, meaning to correct, with the agentive -ent form. It ultimately traces to the Latin corrigere, to make straight or right. In English, the word appears primarily through historical borrowing and is best understood in its antiquarian context rather than as a current industry term.

Usage and context: Today, corrigent is considered archaic or specialized vocabulary. It appears in discussions of historical printing, manuscript transmission, or bibliographic cataloging rather than in modern publishing workflows. When the concept of correction is needed, contemporary terms such as editor, proofreader, or corrector are more common.

See also: corrigendum, corrigenda, editor, proofreader, manuscript, printing history.