# paraph

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpaɹəf/

## Definitions
1. A flourish made after or below one's signature, originally to prevent forgery.
2. A mark used by medieval rubricators to indicate textual division.

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English paraf, from Medieval Latin paraffus or its etymon Middle French paraphe, paraffe, shortening of paragraphe,
from Ancient Greek παράγραφος (parágraphos).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/paraph