chirography
English edit
Etymology edit
From chirograph + -y under influence from geography &c., from French chirographe, from Latin chirographus and chirographum, from Ancient Greek χειρόγραφος (kheirógraphos) and χειρόγραφον (kheirógraphon), from χειρο- (kheiro-, “hand-”) + γραφος (graphos, “writing, written thing”). Equivalent to chiro- (“hand”) + -graphy (“writing”) and handwriting.
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /kʌɪˈrɒɡrəfi/
- Rhymes: -ɒɡɹəfi
Noun edit
chirography (usually uncountable, plural chirographies)
- Synonym of handwriting or penmanship, one's personal skill at writing.
- 1856, Edward Parrish, An Introduction to practical pharmacy:
- A flourishing style of chirography is nowhere less in place than on a physician's prescription.
- Synonym of calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing.
- Synonym of autograph, writing in one's own hand.
- Synonym of palmistry, fortune-telling based on one's hand.
Related terms edit
References edit
- “chirography, n.”, in OED Online
, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 2022.
