Verso
[vər-soh]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Latin, mid-19th century
1.
A left-hand page of an open book, or the back of a loose document.
2.
The reverse of something such as a coin or painting.
Examples of Verso in a sentence
"Every new chapter begins on the verso."
"This coin is particularly valuable because of the misprint on the verso."
About Verso
Verso is a traditional printing term for the left-hand side of an open book, but it can also be the back side of a single piece of paper. It's a handy term that has been adopted by the arts and collectibles community to refer to the back or reverse side of a painting or coin.
Did you Know?
Open up a book and take a look at the pages in front of you. The right-hand side is called "recto," from the Latin for "on the right leaf." Conversely, "verso" means "on the left leaf." Using these terms is a fancy way to let someone know that you know your books.