The Suffixes -graph and - gram Lesson #23

Etymology  The Greek suffix –graph and its related form –gram have to do with writing. The suffix is taken from the ancient Greek verb graphein, which means “to write.” Graph is sometimes used as a root. Graph, diagram, and autobiography are a few of the many words containing this word part.

calligraphy  Noun - The art of fine handwriting; decorative handwriting

cartography  Noun - The technique or art of making maps or charts

demography  Noun - The study of characteristics of human populations, such as size, growth, or age  Note: In demography, -graph is used to mean “writings” or “studies.”

epigram  Noun - A short, clever poem or saying  “Little strokes Fell great oaks.” — Benjamin Franklin Note: The Greek tradition of epigrams began as poems inscribed on dedicated offerings at sanctuaries – including statues of athletes – and on funerary monuments, for example "Go tell it to the Spartans, passersby..."."Go tell it to the Spartans, passersby..."

graphic  Noun - A visual representation, such as a graph or picture  Adjective - Described in a vivid and effective manner

holography  Noun - A photographic technique that produces a three-dimensional image  Note: A holograph is a document written entirely in the handwriting of the person who signs it, such as most letters. A hologram is a 3-D image produced by holography

monogram  Noun - A design composed of single letters, usually initials  Verb - To make a design of single letters, usually initials  Note: Monogram refers to “single” initials. Monograph refers to a piece of writing on one subject. Though each word comes from “single” and “writing,” they have different meanings.

monograph  Noun- A scholarly report on one subject

seismograph  Noun - An instrument for measuring and recording movements of the earth’s crust

typography  Noun - The style and arrangement of text, either printed on paper or displayed on a screen  Note: Typography– old and new In the mid-1400’s, Johann Gutenberg invented moveable type, which consisted of small blocks with raised letters on them. When the blocks were inked and pressed onto a piece of paper, they formed printed letters. The printed images became known as type because the letters always looked the same; they had a standard form (or type). Today, printing is usually done by computer, but the way we design our documents is still known as typography.