calligraphy
- fancy penmanship, especially highly decorative handwriting, as with a great many flourishes: She appreciated the calligraphy of the 18th century.
- handwriting; penmanship.
- the art of writing beautifully: He studied calligraphy when he was a young man.
- a script, usually cursive, although sometimes angular, produced chiefly by brush, especially Chinese, Japanese, or Arabic writing of high aesthetic value.
- 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.
Origin of calligraphy
Examples from the Web for calligraphic
Historical Examples of calligraphic
His writing was a marvel of calligraphic art; he himself, a curiosity.
Tracks of a Rolling StoneHenry J. Coke
He tells us how he collected his vellum treasures—his "crackling tomes" so rich in illuminations and calligraphic art!
Bibliomania in the Middle AgesFrederick Somner Merryweather
The volume, as a specimen of calligraphic art, reflects honor upon the age, and is right worthy of Lady Hilda's monastery.
Bibliomania in the Middle AgesFrederick Somner Merryweather
The calligraphic school of Winchester achieves magnificent results.
The Wanderings and Homes of ManuscriptsM. R. James
Reputed for high literary, calligraphic, and artistic skill, he also possessed a profound knowledge of politics.
JapanVarious
calligraphy
- handwriting, esp beautiful handwriting considered as an artAlso called: chirography
Word Origin and History for calligraphic
calligraphy
1610s, from Greek kaligraphia, from kallos "beauty" + graphein "to write" (see -graphy). Related: Calligraphic. The usual comb. form in Greek was kalli- "beautiful, fine, happy, favorable;" kalo- was a later, rarer alternative form.