Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A tray or rack for pens and bottles of ink.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A small cup-like receptacle, with or without a cover, for holding the ink used in writing.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A small vessel for holding ink, to dip the pen into; also, a device for holding ink and writing materials.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A small tray containing pens and an inkwell.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a tray or stand for writing implements and containers for ink
  • noun a small well holding writing ink into which a pen can be dipped

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The inkstand was a skull; the ruler was a fore-arm; the paper-weight was

    Historical Miniatures August Strindberg 1880

  • Above the inkstand is a pen stuck in a hole, with vacant holes beside it.

    The Care of Books John Willis Clark 1871

  • The roll contained an Address to Mr. Thorpe, eulogizing his character in very affectionate terms; the inkstand was a Testimonial to be presented after the Address; and the gentlemen who occupied the three private carriages were all eminent members of the religious society which Mr. Thorpe had served in the capacity of Secretary, and from which he was now obliged to secede in consequence of the precarious state of his health.

    Hide and Seek Wilkie Collins 1856

  • The inkstand is a beautiful specimen of silverwork.

    Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands, Volume 2 Harriet Beecher Stowe 1853

  • She sat down in the crimson-cushioned arm-chair that was drawn close to the circular table, where pen and paper told that the owner had recently been writing, and near the inkstand was a handkerchief with German initials, S.E. M. Upon a mass of loose papers stood a quaint bronze paper-weight, representing Cartaphilus, the Wandering Jew; and on the base was inscribed Mr. Murray's favorite Arabian maxim: "Ed dünya djifetun ve talibeha kilab": "The world is an abomination, and those who toil about it are dogs."

    St. Elmo. A Novel. Augusta Jane 1867

  • Bonham's A silver-mounted inkstand will be auctioned at Bonhams.

    The Tchotchkes of Nelson and Churchill 2012

  • Other objects fulfill the "gentleman's library" conceit—an 1877 ivory-and-silver "owl" perfume bottle by London silversmith William Frederick Williams; a silver-mounted Gorham inkstand, circa 1894; and a detailed metalwork model of a Chinese ship resting on a wavelike carved-wood base.

    The Tchotchkes of Nelson and Churchill 2012

  • There was a fireplace and a large winged chair beside it, a desk made of fragrant Indonesian wood, quills and silver inkstand and leather-bound blotter at the ready; blue toile de Jouy curtains featuring scenes of 18th century country life; a Persian carpet decorated with birds alighting in trees; and of course, books.

    Writer Unboxed » Blog Archive » A love song to libraries 2008

  • Then, seeing the inkstand handy, I picked up the weed and dipped it in, using the result to paint interesting patterns on the thick blotting paper.

    Sick Cycle Carousel 2010

  • Near Grantaire, an almost silent table, a sheet of paper, an inkstand and a pen between two glasses of brandy, announced that a vaudeville was being sketched out.

    Les Miserables 2008

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  • Citation on chirography.

    July 31, 2008