ex libris
Preserved but no longer current.
Literally, "from the (collection of) books." The phrase is written in the books or printed on the bookplate, and is followed by the name of the owner in the genitive. Hence, a bookplate is often called an ex libris.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “ex libris” mean?
Literally, "from the (collection of) books." The phrase is written in the books or printed on the bookplate, and is followed by the name of the owner in the genitive. Hence, a bookplate is often called an ex libris.
Is “ex libris” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.