urtext

urtext [ur-tekst, oo r-] Word Origin noun (sometimes initial capital letter)

1. the original form of a text, especially of a musical composition.

Origin of urtext First recorded in 1950–55; ur-3 + text British Dictionary definitions for urtext Urtext noun

1. the earliest form of a text as established by linguistic scholars as a basis for variants in later texts still in existence
2. an edition of a musical score showing the composer’s intentions without later editorial interpolation

Word Origin for Urtext from ur- original + text