logogriph

American  

[law-guh-grif, log-uh-] / ˈlɔ gə grɪf, ˈlɒg ə- /

noun

1. an anagram, or a puzzle involving anagrams.

2. a puzzle in which a certain word, and other words formed from any or all of its letters, must be guessed from indications given in a set of verses.

---

logogriph British  

/ ˈlɒɡəʊˌɡrɪf /

noun

1. a word puzzle, esp one based on recombination of the letters of a word

---

Other Word Forms

• logogriphic adjective

Etymology

Origin of logogriph

First recorded in 1590–1600; logo- + Greek grîphos “(woven) fishing basket, creel; something intricate, dark saying, riddle”

Explanation

A logogriph is a kind of word puzzle that was quite popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. The challenge is to solve a riddle by finding a hidden word or words within another, usually longer one. The simplest form of a logogriph is a game where you try to make as many words as possible out of the letters of another, usually longer word. How many words can you make using the letters in logogriph? I see logo, graph, gogo, grip, girl, polio, etc. Historically, however, a logogriph was more complicated. It was often written as a series of riddles in verse, where each stanza provided a clue to a different word made from a master word's letters. If the master word were MASTER, for example, the verse clues might lead you to mast, steam, and tamer, before finally revealing the word star.

Example Sentences

With a little effort, I might, like any one else, be able to give you an interpretation of this logogriph, which might appear to have something in it.

From George Sand, some aspects of her life and writings by Hallard, Alys