n.
Pronunciation: ' pa-l ə m(p)- ˌ sest, p ə - ' lim(p)-
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin palimpsestus, from Greek palimps ē stos scraped again, from palin + ps ē n to rub, scrape; akin to Sanskrit ps ā ti, babhasti he chews
Date: 1825
1 : writing material (as a parchment or tablet) used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased
2 : something having usually diverse layers or aspects apparent beneath the surface <Canada ⋯ is a palimpsest , an overlay of classes and generations ― Margaret Atwood>