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  

/ ˌkrɒnəʊɡrəˈmætɪk, ˈkrəʊnə-, ˈkrɒnəˌɡræm /

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

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

Etymology

Origin of chronogram

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

Example Sentences

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

From Reuters • Feb. 4, 2022

The use of an abbreviation was necessary to prevent the addition of another letter I or M, which would have disturbed the formation of the chronogram desired.

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 Bedini, Silvio A.

If any object and say, "Deni" is only the plural; I excuse my self by that admirable chronogram upon King Charles the martyr.

From Miscellanies Upon Various Subjects by Aubrey, John

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 Bedini, Silvio A.

In addition, each lemma, contained within asterisks, carries out the chronogram 1764, the year the clock was completed.

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 Bedini, Silvio A.