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

Etymology

Origin of chronogram

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

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

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

The central emblem is that of the Trinity, with a "chronogram" indicating the year 1634 thus:—sInt DoMUs hUjUs pII reges nUtrItII regInae nUtrICes pIae.

From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Winchester A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See by Philip Walsingham Sergeant

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

Chronograph, kron′o-graf, n. a chronogram: an instrument for taking exact measurements of time, or for recording graphically the moment or duration of an event.—ns.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various