diplomatics

Probably from Italian or Ecclesiastical Latin diplomatica.

• Rhymes: -ætɪks

diplomatics (countable and uncountable, plural diplomatics)

1. The science of authenticating, dating, and interpreting old official documents.
   • 1910, H. A. L. Fisher, Frederick William Maitland, Downing Professor of the Laws of England‎^[1], Cambridge: University Press:

     Paleography might teach men to read documents, diplomatics to date them and to test their authenticity; but the full significance of an ancient deed might easily escape the most exact paleographer and the most accomplished diplomatist, for the want of that finished sense for legal technicality which is the natural fruit of a conveyancing practice.

• diplomatic
• forensic paleography

• paleography

• diploma
• diplomatist

diplomatics

1. masculine plural of diplomatic