1. Plural of glossa; explanatory notes or comments inserted between the lines or in the margins of a text, especially in medieval manuscripts.
Usage: archaic; scholarly
2. Plural of glossa; a brief explanation or definition of a difficult or obscure word or phrase.
Usage: linguistics; archaic

Examples

• Medieval scholars added glossas to clarify difficult passages in classical texts.
• The manuscript contained numerous glossas written in Latin between the lines of the original Greek.
• Glossas were an important tool for transmitting knowledge in the Middle Ages.
• The glossas provided readers with interpretations of obscure theological terms.
• Historians study glossas to understand how medieval scholars interpreted ancient works.