\Un"cial\, a. [L. uncialis amounting to the twelfth part
of a pound or a foot, from uncia the twelfth part of a pound
or of a foot, an ounce, an inch: cf. F. oncial. See {Inch} a
measure.]
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superseded by the cursive style.

\Un"cial\, n.
An uncial letter.