monogram
- a design consisting of two or more alphabetic letters combined or interlaced, commonly one's initials, often printed on stationery, embroidered on clothing, etc.
- a single emblematic or decorative letter; applied initial.
- to decorate with a monogram.
Origin of monogram
Examples from the Web for monogram
Contemporary Examples
One of the earliest works in the show depicts the monogram MT, for Marie-Thérèse.
Historical Examples
On the front was engraved a monogram J. M., and on the back a coat-of-arms.
Murder PointConingsby Dawson
Gideon Junior (father of Giddy) smoked cigarettes with his monogram on them.
GigoloEdna Ferber
I went to him and held it up and pointed to the monogram she had embroidered on it.
The Plum TreeDavid Graham Phillips
The description of the book, casual as it was, made mention of the monogram on the cover.
The LibraryAndrew Lang
Her glimpse of the monogram on the back of the watch had not lasted long enough.
Special MessengerRobert W. Chambers
monogram
- a design of one or more letters, esp initials, embroidered on clothing, printed on stationery, etc
- (tr; usually passive) to decorate (clothing, stationery, etc) with a monogram
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for monogram
n.
"two or more letters intertwined," 1690s, from French monogramme or directly from Late Latin monogramma (5c.), from Late Greek monogrammon "a character formed of several letters in one design," especially in reference to the signature of the Byzantine emperors, noun use of neuter of monogrammos (adj.) "consisting of a single letter," literally "drawn with single lines," from Greek monos "single, alone" (see mono-) + gramma "letter, line" (see grammar). Earlier it meant "sketch or picture drawn in lines only, without shading or color," a sense also found in Latin and probably in Greek. Related: Monogrammatic.
v.
1868, from monogram (n.). Related: Monogrammed; monogramming.