chirography
Art of handwriting
Chirography is handwriting, or the art of handwriting.
The term is formal and old-fashioned, largely replaced by *penmanship* in everyday use.
It occasionally appears in discussions of historical documents or graphology: The chirography of medieval scribes reveals much about their training.
Joined handwriting style
- penmanshipSkill of forming letters
- legibilityClearness of text
- lettersAlphabetic characters or mail
- scriptWritten words for performance
longhand · scrawl · scribble · hand · graphology · jotting · print · block letters
To grow vigorously
- ornamentalFor beauty, not function
- elegantGracefully refined, tasteful
- swirlsCircular flowing movements
- illuminatedMade visible by light
embellished · filigree · scrollwork · arabesque · stylized · decorative · intricate · gilding
Treated hide for manuscripts
- quillFeather used for writing
- inkwellContainer for dipping pens
- scrollWound document of parchment
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
vellum · codex · palimpsest · scribe · folio · papyrus · amanuensis · copyist
Handwritten personal signature
- initialsAbbreviated personal letters
- inscriptionText permanently marked
- signatoryOne who signs officially
- endorsementFormal expression of support
authentication · mark · flourish · countersign · hand · John Hancock · monogram · holograph
cursive
Joined handwriting style
- penmanshipSkill of forming letters
- legibilityClearness of text
- lettersAlphabetic characters or mail
script · longhand · scrawl · scribble · hand · graphology · jotting · print · block letters · slant
flourish
To grow vigorously
- ornamentalFor beauty, not function
- elegantGracefully refined, tasteful
- swirlsCircular flowing movements
illuminated · embellished · filigree · scrollwork · arabesque · stylized · decorative · intricate · gilding · fanciful
parchment
Treated hide for manuscripts
manuscript · vellum · codex · palimpsest · scribe · folio · papyrus · amanuensis · copyist · scriptorium
autograph
Handwritten personal signature
- initialsAbbreviated personal letters
- inscriptionText permanently marked
- signatoryOne who signs officially
endorsement · authentication · mark · flourish · countersign · hand · John Hancock · monogram · holograph · attestation
ink
Writing fluid
- paperPressed pulp for writing
- pencilGraphite writing instrument
- fountain penInk-reservoir writing instrument
ballpoint · nib · pen · stylus · brush pen · felt-tip · roller ball · cartridge · blotter · ruled paper
italic
Slanted letter style
- serifLetter terminal flourish
- sans-serifType without terminal strokes
- gothicDark, mysterious aesthetic
roman · font · typeface · kerning · ligature · swash · letterform · ascender · descender · baseline
chirographytyping
Entering text via keyboard
typewriting · typography · word processing · keyboarding · digital text
chirographyspeech
Oral communication ability
oral communication · spoken word · oratory · verbal expression
geography, biography, photography, topography, calligraphy, hieroglyphics, typography, demography, lexicography