calligraphy
/kəˈlɪɡrəfi
/noun [mass noun]
1Decorative handwriting or handwritten lettering: a label written in admirable calligraphy...
- This attention to detail, beauty, and muscle control can later be transferred to cursive writing and beautiful calligraphy.
- He handed me a note, folded neatly down the middle and lettered in flowing calligraphy.
- It was a simple, yet elegant invitation - all white, with a little emboss of flowers and the information written in calligraphy.
1.1The art of producing decorative handwriting or lettering with a pen or brush: you could watch professionals demonstrating lettering and calligraphy [with modifier]: Japanese calligraphy...
- Qianlong proves a generous patron of the arts, supporting classical calligraphy, poetry and painting.
- Later, the guqin was regarded as one of the four required arts for ancient Chinese scholars, including the art of Go, calligraphy and painting.
- It was noted that most students lack a thorough background in typography, lettering and calligraphy.
Derivatives
calligrapher
/ noun ...- Archaeological discoveries from the Bronze Age also found that ancient Chinese calligraphers painted characters on tortoise shells.
- It seems to me that the use of calligraphy is changing, as so many calligraphers are leaning towards fine art.
- Today's calligraphers believe it is impossible to advance beyond the artistic peak achieved by their predecessors, although they are trying hard to keep the ancient art form alive.
calligraphist
/ noun ...- The calligraphist had given each letter a shadow, so that the words seemed to hover just over the page.
- Also in the garden, inscriptions of the noted calligraphists lure many lovers of oriental culture.
- People were all in high spirits with Spring Festival scrolls written by officials and calligraphists in hand.
Origin
Early 17th century: from Greek kalligraphia, from kalligraphos 'person who writes beautifully', from kallos 'beauty' + graphein 'write'.
This is from Greek kalligraphia, from kallos ‘beauty’ and graphein ‘write’. In callisthenics (early 19th century) (US calisthenics) kallos is combined with sthenos ‘strength’.