tome

Tome is a term for a large, heavy book, typically one that is scholarly or of considerable length. In common usage, it signals not just a book’s physical size but its seriousness or authority. A tome may be part of a multi‑volume work, and such volumes often include extensive citations, notes, or plates.

The word derives from Latin tomus meaning “section, volume,” from Greek tomos meaning “slice” or “section.” It entered English via Old French tome during the Middle Ages, and its sense evolved to emphasize substantial, weighty volumes.

In modern prose, “tome” can carry a connotation of formality or verbosity; it is sometimes used humorously or pejoratively for especially long books. In fantasy and popular culture, tomes are commonly depicted as magical or encyclopedic books containing hidden knowledge.

Tome may also be a surname or given name in some cultures. The term is related to but distinct from other book terms such as volume, codex, or grimoire, which emphasize different aspects of a book.