/ ˈkəʊdeks; NAmE ˈkoʊ-/ noun ( pl. co·di·ces / ˈkəʊdɪsiːz; ˈkɒd-; NAmE ˈkoʊ-; ˈkɑːd-/ or codexes )
1.
an ancient text in the form of a book
2.
an official list of medicines or chemicals
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (denoting a collection of statutes): from Latin , literally block of wood , later denoting a block split into leaves or tablets for writing on, hence a book. See code .