autography
Definition
- Noun:
- The process of writing by one's own hand: "autography" refers to the act or practice of writing something personally, rather than by a scribe or machine.
- A manuscript written by the author: It can also mean a document or text that is handwritten by its creator, especially an author.
- A printing process using a lithographic stone: In historical contexts, "autography" denotes a method of reproducing handwritten text or drawings by transferring them to a lithographic stone for printing.
Usage Examples
- (The handwritten manuscript by the poet.)
- (The act of writing by hand.)
- (The lithographic printing method.)
Advanced Usage
"in autography": referring to a text that exists in the author's own handwriting.
- The letter survives in autography, showing the writer's personal style. (The letter is handwritten by the author.)
"autography as evidence": using handwritten documents to verify authorship or intent.
- The will was proven genuine through autography. (The handwriting matched the deceased's known script.)
Variants and Related Words
- Autograph (n/v): a person's own signature or handwriting; to sign something personally.
- She asked the author for an autograph. (A signature.)
- Autographic (adj): relating to or produced by autography.
- The autographic copy was more valuable than the printed edition. (Handwritten or lithographically reproduced.)
- Autobiography (n): a self-written account of one's own life. (Note: This is a compound word, not a direct variant of "autography," but shares the "auto-" prefix.)
Synonyms
- Handwriting: the style or act of writing by hand.
- Manuscript: a document written by hand.
- Script: handwriting as a form of expression.
Related Idioms
- In one's own hand: written personally by the individual.
- The note was in her own hand, proving she wrote it. (Handwritten by her.)
Phrasal Verbs
- (None directly associated with "autography"; the word is primarily a noun.)
Note: "Autography" is a specialized term, most commonly encountered in historical, literary, or printing contexts. It is distinct from "autograph" (a signature) and "autobiography" (a life story).