chronogram

American  

[kron-uh-gram] / ˈkrɒn əˌgræm /

noun

1. an inscription in which certain Roman numeral letters express a date or epoch on being added together by their values.

2. a record made by a chronograph.

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chronogram British  

/ ˈkrɒnəˌɡræm, ˈkrəʊnə- /

noun

1. a phrase or inscription in which letters such as M, C, X, L and V can be read as Roman numerals giving a date

2. a record kept by a chronograph

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Other Word Forms

• chronogrammatist
  noun
• chronogrammatic
  adjective
• chronogrammatical
  adjective
• chronogrammatically
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of chronogram

First recorded in 1615–25; chrono- + -gram ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chronogram

"He decided to ignore the previously adopted chronogram of reform and elections," the internal EU's sanctions list said.

From Reuters ● Feb. 4, 2022

Figure 18.—A chronogram in the text of Father Borghesi's second volume, indicating the year 1764.

From The Borghesi Astronomical Clock in the Museum of History and Technology Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Paper 35, the Smithsonian Institution United States National Museum Bulletin 240 by Silvio A. Bedini

Webster defines a chronogram as an inscription, sentence, or phrase in which certain letters express a date or epoch.

From The Borghesi Astronomical Clock in the Museum of History and Technology Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Paper 35, the Smithsonian Institution United States National Museum Bulletin 240 by Silvio A. Bedini

They're both of the sixteenth century, when we were prosperous and artistic; and over the north-side entrance there's a chronogram inscription concerning the siege.

From The Chauffeur and the Chaperon by Karl Anderson

It might be supposed to be a chronogram, but for the introduction of the letter "E."

From Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 111, December 13, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Various

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