telegram
Coded wired dispatch
A telegram is a message sent by telegraph—an electrical communication system that transmitted coded signals over wires.
Before telephones became widespread, telegrams were the fastest way to send urgent news across distances.
The word now evokes an earlier technological era: She received a telegram announcing his arrival.
People still occasionally send telegrams for ceremonial purposes, though the technology is largely obsolete. (Capitalized Telegram is the messaging app.)
Short in duration
- terseBrief to bluntness
- succinctExpressed with minimal words
- stopCease all motion
- capitalizedMade the first letter big
abbreviated · condensed · truncated · word count · rate · prepaid · collect · form
Send with speed
- communiquéOfficial governmental announcement
- missiveFormal letter sent
- cableHeavy-duty woven line
- wireThin metallic conductor
cablegram · radiogram · correspondence · notification · bulletin · announcement · memo · note
Of a prim era
- wartimePeriod of armed conflict
- casualtyPerson harmed in disaster
- weddingMarriage rite and feast
- congratulatoryExpressing praise for success
candygram · ticker tape · Reuters · Associated Press · Western Union · death notice
Lock-opening device
- transmitterSignal-emitting device
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- telegraphistMorse transmission operator
- sounderMore solid or reliable
circuit · relay · station · tap · wire · line · switchboard · operator
brief
Short in duration
capitalized · abbreviated · condensed · truncated · word count · rate · prepaid · collect · form · blank
dispatch
Send with speed
- communiquéOfficial governmental announcement
- missiveFormal letter sent
- cableHeavy-duty woven line
wire · cablegram · radiogram · correspondence · notification · bulletin · announcement · memo · note · communique
Victorian
Of a prim era
congratulatory · candygram · ticker tape · Reuters · Associated Press · Western Union · death notice
key
Lock-opening device
- transmitterSignal-emitting device
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- telegraphistMorse transmission operator
sounder · circuit · relay · station · tap · wire · line · switchboard · operator · radiotelegraph
emergency
Serious sudden danger
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
- immediateHappening without delay
swift · dire · priority · rush · hasty · prompt · rapid · desperate · alarming · grave
Morse
Telegraph code originator
dots · dashes · dot · dash · alphanumeric · punctuation · numeral · spacing · timing · international
- communicationsannouncement, telephone, address, phone, key messages
- tele- wordstelephone, television, TV, telescope, telecast
- telecommunicationscell phone, cellphone, signals, cellular network, telephone calls
- brevitybrevity, concise, succinct, terse, pithy
- Early 1900sroaring twenties, flapper, jazz, speakeasy, prohibition
- historical documentsDeclaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Magna Carta, Emancipation Proclamation, Federalist Papers
telegramletter
Written symbol or message
surface mail · snail mail · pony express · messenger pigeon · parcel post
telegramemail
Digital written communication
text message · instant message · tweet · DM · iMessage
telegramletter
Written symbol or message
handwritten note · verbal communication · oral communication · unwire
- singing telegramsPerformed songs as gifts
- telegraph cablesWires transmitting electrical messages
- telegraph polesPosts supporting communication lines
- telegraph wiresCables carrying coded messages
- telegraph linesElectrical message transmission cables
- telegraph operatorTransmits coded wire messages
telegraph, telegrams, telegraphic, telegrammed, telegraphy, telegramming