serif
/ˈsɛrɪf
/noun
A slight projection finishing off a stroke of a letter in certain typefaces. Compare with sans serif.On paper it's easier to read serif fonts, because the serifs help the letters blend together and it is physically easier on the eyes and brain....
- It makes a nice contrast with the serif fonts we use for body text, and manages to convey both the technical expertise and relative newness of the company.
- Have the guidelines for the electronic environment been validated, or are they like the ‘truism’ that a typeface with serifs is more readable than one without them?
Derivatives
seriffed
- That's a cool, subtly seriffed font.
- In the context of a seriffed font, the euro symbol will be seriffed, too.
Origin
Mid 19th century: perhaps from Dutch schreef 'dash, line', of Germanic origin.