The typeface kind of βfontβ is the easier to explain. We use βfontβ loosely to mean a style of type (e.g., Comic Sans, the official Microsoft font), but, more precisely, a βfontβ is a complete set of a certain style of type, i.e., including a complete alphabet, punctuation, numerals, etc. This βfontβ first appeared in English in the late 16th century, based on the French βfonte,β from βfondre,β meaning βto castβ as one βcastsβ objects from molten metal. The first use of βfontβ in English was, in fact, to mean simply βcast iron.β Type at that time was, of course, cast from metal, but it wasnβt until the late 17th century that βfontβ (then often in the form βfountβ or even βfoundβ) was used in the βfamily of typeβ sense (βBreak down the Printing-Presses, melt the Founds.β 1723).
reply
share