biograph1
/ˈbʌɪə(ʊ)ɡrɑːf/ /ˈbʌɪə(ʊ)ɡraf/noun
1A biography or biographical article; especially a short profile of a public figure. Now rare.
2Originally US. An early form of motion-picture camera and projector combined. Compare bioscope. Now historical.
- The name of the American Mutoscope Company, founded in 1895 by W. K. L. Dickson, was changed to the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company in 1899, and to the Biograph Company in 1909. Most later uses of the word biograph are references to the company..
Origin
Early 19th century; earliest use found in Precept & Example. From bio- + -graph, after biographic, biography. Compare French biographe, German Biograph, both in sense ‘biographer’.
biograph2
/ˈbʌɪə(ʊ)ɡrɑːf/ /ˈbʌɪə(ʊ)ɡraf/verb
[with object] To write a biography or biographical profile of (a person, especially a historical or public figure); (also) to record (historical information) in a biographical account. Occasionally without object.
Origin
Late 18th century. Back-formation from either biographer or biography.