palimpsest

pa·limp·sest

Pronunciation:

\ˈpa-ləm(p)-ˌsest, pə-ˈlim(p)-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Latin palimpsestus, from Greek palimpsēstos scraped again, from palin + psēn to rub, scrape; akin to Sanskrit psāti, 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