chirography

English

Etymology

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

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kʌɪˈrɒɡrəfi/
• Rhymes: -ɒɡɹəfi

Noun

chirography (usually uncountable, plural chirographies)

1. 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.

2. Synonym of calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing.
3. Synonym of autograph, writing in one's own hand.
4. Synonym of palmistry, fortune-telling based on one's hand.

Related terms

• chirographic

References

• “chirography, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 2022.