Of, pertaining to, or designating, a certain style of
   letters used in ancient manuscripts, esp. in Greek and Latin
   manuscripts. The letters are somewhat rounded, and the upstrokes and
   downstrokes usually have a slight inclination. These letters were used
   as early as the 1st century b. c., and were seldom used after the 10th
   century a. d., being superseded by the cursive style.