monogram
UK /ˈmɒ.nəˌɡɹæm/ · US /ˈmɑ.nəˌɡɹæm/ noun, verb
Forms monograms monogramming monograming monogrammed monogramed monogramme
- noun (obsolete) A picture drawn in line only, before the colour and/or shading is applied; an outline sketch.
- noun (obsolete, rare) A sentence consisting of only one line, or an epigram consisting of only one verse, of poetry.
- noun A design or motif composed of one or more letters, often intertwined, used as an identifying mark of an individual or institution; the letters are usually the initials of their names.
- verb (transitive) To mark something with a monogram.
- noun the unbroken line ⚊ for Heaven;
- noun the once-broken line ⚋ for Earth;
- noun the twice-broken line 𝌀 for Man (only used in Taixuanjing divination).
Etymology
From French monogramme, from the Classical Latin adjective monogrammus, from the conjectured Ancient Greek * μονόγραμμος (monógrammos, “outlined”, “drawn with single lines”).
Formed as mono- + -gram, by analogy with epigram.
The noun derives from the post-Classical Latin monogrammum, itself from the Byzantine Greek μονόγραμμον (monógrammon); compare the French and Middle French monogramme, as well as the Italian monogramma. The verb derives from the noun; compare the earlier adjective monogrammed and the slightly earlier noun monogramming.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A character or cipher composed of two or more letters interwoven or combined so as to represent a name, or a part of it (usually the initials). Monograms are often used on seals, ornamental pins, rings, buttons, and by painters, engravers, etc., to distinguish their works. Monogram.
- noun A picture in lines; a sketch. [R.]
Etymology [L. monogramma; Gr. monogramme. See Graphic.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “monogram”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details