pamphlet

Etymology

The noun is derived from Late Middle English pamflet, pamphilet (“short written text; small book; tract”) [and other forms], from Middle French Pamphilet (compare Late Latin (Anglo-Latin) pamfletus, panfletus, paunflettus (“short written text”), Old French Panfilès), a popular shorthand for the 12th-century Latin love poem Pamphilus, seu de amore (Pamphilus, or On Love), which was so widely circulated in pamphlets as to give its name to the whole phenomenon. Pamphilet is derived from Latin Pamphilus, the name of a protagonist of the poem + Middle French -et (suffix forming diminutive masculine nouns); while Pamphilus is from Ancient Greek Πάμφιλος (Pámphilos, literally “beloved by all”), from παν- (pan-, prefix meaning ‘all; every’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂- (“to protect; to shepherd”)) + φῐ́λος (phílos, “beloved, dear”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰil- (“decent; friendly; good; harmonious”)). For the Middle French and Old French use of the suffix -et to form shorthands for the titles of works, compare Middle French Avionet (“the fables of Avianus”) from Avianus; Middle French Catonet, Old French Chatonnet, Chatonez (“the Distichs of Cato”) from Caton (they were formerly believed to be by Cato); and Old French Esopet, Isopet (“Aesop’s Fables”) from Ésope (Aesop). The verb is derived from the noun.

noun

1. A small, brief printed work, consisting either of a folded sheet of paper, or several sheets bound together into a booklet with only a paper cover, formerly containing literary compositions, newsletters, and newspapers, but now chiefly informational matter.
   The brewing of beer from malt instead of sugar is strongly recommended, and a scale of rewards in grants of land, had been proposed; which however had not been adopted by the Colonial Council, and seems to be objected to by the Governor: but this interesting pamphlet requires to be read to appreciate its value. 1832 June, “Agricultural and Horticultural Society”, in The Calcutta Magazine and Monthly Register, number XXX, Calcutta, West Bengal: Samuel Smith and Co.[…], →OCLC, page 192, column 1
   The librarian should consider the value of the publication compared to its cost. How far will one resource stretch compared with another of the same price? For example, a pamphlet or booklet series is accessible to more people at one time than a bound volume. 1980 fall, Gail M. Martin, “A Guide to Setting Up a Career Resource Information Center”, in Melvin C. Fountain, editor, Occupational Outlook Quarterly, volume 24, number 3, Washington, D.C.: Occupational Outlook Service, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 15, column 1
2. (specifically) Such a work containing political material or discussing matters of controversy.
3. (obsolete) A brief handwritten work.
   Christ now to Thee I crye of mercy and of grace and graunt of Thy goodnes to every maner reder ful understandyng in this leude pamflet to have, and let no man wene other cause in this werke that is verily the soth. Christ, now to Thee I cry of mercy and of grace, and grant of Thy goodness to every manner [of?] reader full understanding in this lewed [unlearned] pamphlet to have, and let no man suppose other cause in this work that is verily the sooth [truth].] [c. 1385, Thomas Usk, chapter IX, in R. Allen Shoaf, editor, The Testament of Love (Middle English Texts) (in Middle English), Kalamazoo, Mich.: […] [F]or TEAMS (The Consortium for the Teaching of the Middle Ages) in association with the University of Rochester by Medieval Institute Publications, Western Michigan University, published 1998, book III, lines 1088–1091, page 302
   And heere I cast vnto my purpoos / Out of Frenssh a tale to translate, / Which in a paunflet I radde & sauh but late. And here I cast unto my purpose / Out of French a tale to translate, / Which in a pamphlet I read and saw but late.] [a. 1410?, John Lydgate, “The Churl and the Bird”, in Henry Noble MacCracken, editor, The Minor Poems of John Lydgate[…] (Original Series; 192), part II (Secular Poems) (in Middle English), London: […] [F]or the Early English Text Society, by Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press[…], published 1934, →OCLC, stanza 5, lines 33–35, page 469

verb

1. (transitive)
   1. To distribute pamphlets (to someone or some place).
      Is not This a Seaſonable and Wholeſome Doctrine, d'ye think, to publiſh to the Multitude at this time of day, when they are Preacht and Pamphletted into Tinder already; And the Leaſt ſpark hazzards the Putting of 'em All in a flame? 1682 July 15 (Gregorian calendar), Roger L’Estrange, The Observator, number 165, London: […] Joanna Brome[…], →OCLC, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Rd5BAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA165-IA1 page [2]], column 1
      We are pamphleted on the subject until we are weary. 1886 June, “Touch and Technic. A Few Stray Thoughts.”, in Theodore Presser, editor, The Etude: A Monthly Publication for Teachers and Students of the Piano-forte, volume IV, number 6, Philadelphia, Pa.: Theodore Presser, →OCLC, page 133, column 1
      Being skilled pickpockets and socially invisible, they slip the propaganda into the pockets of the occupiers. They write letters as the ghosts of dead soldiers. They particularly like pamphletting the funerals of dead German soldiers, writing in the voice of the recently deceased. 2015, Jessa Crispin, “Jersey Island/Claude Cahun”, in The Dead Ladies Project: Exiles, Expats & Ex-countries, Chicago, Ill., London: University of Chicago Press, page 207
   2. (archaic) To write about (someone or something) in a pamphlet; to issue (some material) in the form of a pamphlet.
      How many Honourable, and Loyall Gentlemen; Nay the Flower of the Nobility, have been Pamphleted up and down the Nation like ſo many Shrewing-Cocks, for every Cur to lift up his Leg and Piſs againſt; as the Betrayers of the Liberties of the Nation, when, Effectually, they were next under God himſelf, the Preſervers of 'em: […] 1683 October 27 (Gregorian calendar), Roger L’Estrange, The Observator, number 422, London: […] Joanna Brome[…], →OCLC, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Rd5BAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA422-IA1 page [2]], column 1
      This Diſcourse being Pamphleted about, to Court, City and Country, open'd a door to the Reformation intended, and ſhut out all thoſe prejudices it might lie under from the State, and Religion of Fore-fathers, &c. 1716, Myles Davies, “Of the Pamphlets Writ by and about the Learned Courtiers and Favourites in King Henry the 8th’s Court and Camp, that Deceas’d in His Reign, not Spoken of in the First Part”, in Athenæ Britannicæ: Or, A Critical History of the Oxford and Cambridge Writers and Writings,[…], part II, London: […] [F]or the author, and sold by his appointment,[…], →OCLC, page 42
      […] I never knew how much in earnest and in sincerity she was my friend till she heard of my infinite frettation upon occasion of being pamphleted; and then she took the trouble to write me a long scolding letter and Dr. [Samuel] Johnson himself came to talk to me about it, and to reason with me; […] 1779 January, Madame d’Arblay [i.e., Frances Burney], “Miss F. Burney to Mr. Crisp”, in Charlotte Barrett, editor, Diary and Letters of Madame d’Arblay, new edition, volume I (1778 to 1784), London: Bickers and Son,[…], published [1870s], →OCLC, page 103
      You are not exhibiting yourſelves here to become the heroes of a newſpaper; and the converſation that is about to take place between us, is not intended to be pamphleted into the world. 25 March 1801, “History of Jack Smith”, in [J. B. Colvin], editor, The Baltimore Weekly Magazine, Baltimore, Md.: […] J. B. Colvin, at Pechin’s Printing-Office,[…], →OCLC, chapter XXVII, page 238, column 2
      I could wish that this article might be pamphletted, and a large edition struck. 6 April 1839, L. C. B., “‘Review of the Denomination’”, in P. Price, editor, Universalist Union[…], volume IV, number 22-I, New York, N.Y.: Universalist Union Press,[…], →OCLC, page 349, column 1
      The story got abroad, and created great laughter throughout the whole country, and, as might be expected, the little Mayor of C., was ere long caricatured, pamphleted, and paragraphed into resigning, and it was only then that he was allowed to live in peace, and to forget his fatal visit to Valengay. 3 February 1844, “The Late Prince Tallyrand”, in A. D. Paterson, editor, The Anglo American, a Journal of Literature, News, Politics, the Drama, Fine Arts, etc., volume 2, number 15, New York, N.Y.: E. L. Garvin & Co.,[…], →OCLC, page 340, column 1
      These agreements are matters of record, and I suggest that copies of these agreements be pamphletted so as to be available to city officials. 27 December 1895, Eugene Foster, “[Eighteenth Annual Report of the Board of Health, of Augusta, Georgia, for the Year 1895.] Report of City Engineer.”, in The Mayor’s Message, Department Reports and Accompanying Documents with Report of Board of Health, for the Year 1895.[…], Augusta, Ga.: John M. Weigle, published 1896, →OCLC, page 159
      The honourable member was apparently the friend of a solicitor who was one of the Council of Foreign Bondholders which sent the communication to the colony, which was published in the Press of this colony, and then subsequently pamphleted and disseminated broadcast among certain circles in England, with the idea of leading the people there to the belief that he (Mr. Ward) had in this matter acted with duplicity in not acquainting the members of the Council of Foreign Bondholders with a decision of the Government in regard to this matter—which decision had never been given or sent to him. 28 July 1896, Joseph George Ward, “Adjournment”, in New Zealand. Parliamentary Debates. Third Session of the Twelfth Parliament. […] (House of Representatives), volume XCIII, Wellington: John Mackay, government printer, →OCLC, page 503, column 1
      The authors were students and ex-students and nonstudents, those who had arrived at the university not to study in any traditional sense (grab the goodies and run); but had come to sit in the harder school of scant survival and pamphleting and writing and demonstrating and resisting the war. 1987, Daniel Berrigan, “Cornell: Poison in the Ivy”, in To Dwell in Peace: An Autobiography, San Francisco, Calif.: Harper & Row, page 189
2. (intransitive)
   1. To distribute pamphlets.
      Five Swarthmore students, including Wittman, were arrested and fined thirty-four dollars each for pamphleting in February. 2007, Wesley C. Hogan, “SNCC Teaches SDS How to Act”, in Many Minds, One Heart: SNCC’s Dream for a New America, [U.S.A.]: ReadHowYouWant.com, published 2011, page 249
   2. (obsolete, rare) To write or produce pamphlets.
      The advent of legislation to protect wild birds owes a considerable debt to those pioneering individuals who pamphletted and lobbied tirelessly at the turn of the century, many of whom were motivated by welfare considerations rather than the conservation of species per se. 1989, Stuart Housden, “Bird Conservation in Britain”, in L. A. Batten, C. J. Bibby, P. Clement, G. D. Elliott, R. F. Porter, editors, Red Data Birds in Britain, London: T[revor] & A[nna] D. Poyser, published 2010, page 317