Calligraphy

Pronunciation

• enPR: kÉ™-lÄ­g'rÉ™-fi, IPA: /kəˈlɪɡrÉ™fi/

Origin

From French calligraphie, from Ancient Greek καλλιγραφία (kalligrafía, "pretty writing"), from κάλλος (kallos, "beauty") + γράφω (gráphō, "to draw").

Full definition of calligraphy

Noun

1. The art of writing letters and words with decorative strokes.
• 2008, March 15, Roberta Smith, Fair Goes From Feast to Tasting Menu, Around the corner, at Goedhuis, among more contemporary calligraphies, the fat and fuzzy brushwork of Zeng Yizeng (born 1973) stands out.
2. The letters and words so produced, collectively.
3. The art of writing fancy lettering.

Related terms

• calligrapher
• calligraphic

Anagrams

• graphically