tachygraphy

English

WOTD – 12 April 2006

Etymology

Derived from Ancient Greek ταχυγράφος (takhugráphos). By surface analysis, tachy- (“fast”) +‎ -graphy (“writing”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tæˈkɪɡɹəfi/, /tə-/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

tachygraphy (uncountable)

1. The art and practice of rapid writing.
2. (historical) Stenography or shorthand as done in ancient and medieval times.

   Coordinate terms: calligraphy, stenography

   • 1827, John Colin Dunlop, History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age‎, volume II:

     Tiro, the favourite freedman of Cicero, greatly increased the number, and brought this sort of tachygraphy to its greatest perfection among the Romans.

Derived terms

• tachygrapher
• tachygraphic

Related terms

• tachograph

Translations

the art and practice of rapid writing

Catalan: taquigrafia f French: tachygraphie (fr) f Portuguese: taquigrafia (pt) f Spanish: taquigrafía (es) f

stenography as done in ancient times

French: tachygraphie (fr) f Portuguese: taquigrafia (pt) f

Further reading

• Douglas Harper (2001–2025), “tachygraphy”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
• tachygraphy on Wikipedia.Wikipedia