calligraphy

[ kuh-lig-ruh-fee ]

noun

1. fancy penmanship, especially highly decorative handwriting, as with a great many flourishes:

   She appreciated the calligraphy of the 18th century.

2. handwriting; penmanship.
3. the art of writing beautifully:

   He studied calligraphy when he was a young man.

4. a script, usually cursive, although sometimes angular, produced chiefly by brush, especially Chinese, Japanese, or Arabic writing of high aesthetic value.
5. Fine Arts. line or a group of lines either derived from or resembling letter forms and characterized by qualities usually associated with cursive writing, especially that produced with a brush or pen.

calligraphy

/ kəˈlɪɡrəfɪ; ˌkælɪˈɡræfɪk /

noun

1. handwriting, esp beautiful handwriting considered as an art Also calledchirography

Derived Forms

• calligraphic, adjective
• calˈligrapher, noun
• ˌcalliˈgraphically, adverb

Other Words From

• cal·ligra·pher cal·ligra·phist noun
• cal·li·graph·ic [kal-i-, graf, -ik], calli·graphi·cal adjective
• calli·graphi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of calligraphy¹

First recorded in 1605–15, calligraphy is from the Greek word kalligraphía beautiful writing. See calli-, -graphy

Example Sentences

Kim has time to practice calligraphy and write poetry.

From Los Angeles Times

Each one is a piece of art in itself, featuring colorful and funky illustrations with beautiful calligraphy.

From Salon

Chado is remarkable because it incorporates philosophy and all the art forms — cooking, calligraphy, aesthetics, the tea itself and the sweets, ceramics — it really is a whole integrated space when you are in the tearoom.

From Los Angeles Times

Chado is remarkable because it incorporates philosophy and all the art forms — cooking, calligraphy, aesthetics, the tea itself and the sweets, ceramics — it really is a whole integrated space when you are in the tearoom.

From Los Angeles Times

“Go more slowly,” Laura Edralin, a calligraphy teacher in London, told me, as she walked around a table of beginners on a recent Wednesday night, explaining how to achieve even, flowing strokes.

From New York Times

Related Words

• longhand
• manuscript
• scrawl
• script
• writing