calligraphy | Search Online Etymology Dictionary

4 entries found.

"the art of beautiful writing, elegant penmanship," 1610s, from Greek kaligraphia, from kallos "beauty" (see Callisto) + graphein "to write" (see -graphy). Related: Calligrapher; calligraphic.

caligraphy (n.)

alternative spelling of calligraphy.

caco-

before vowels cac-, word-forming element meaning "bad, ill, poor" (as in cacography, the opposite of calligraphy and orthography), from Latinized form of Greek kakos "bad, evil," considered by etymologists probably to be connected with PIE root *kakka- "to defecate." The ancient Greek word was common in compounds; when added to words already bad, it made them worse; when added to words signifying something good, it often implies too little of it.

minim (n.)

mid-15c., in music, "a half-note" (in early medieval music the shortest note used), from Latin minimus "smallest, least; minute, trifling, insignificant;" of time, "least, shortest, very short;" of age, "youngest;" as a noun, "least price, lowest price," superlative of minor "smaller" (from PIE root *mei- (2) "small"). Calligraphy sense "short down-stroke of the pen in making m, n, u, etc." is from c. 1600.

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