Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Written entirely in one's own hand: Describes a document, letter, or manuscript that is wholly handwritten by its author, not typed or printed.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The museum acquired a holographical letter from the famous author.
  • A holographical will, signed and dated, was found among her personal papers.

Advanced Usage

• Legal Context: In law, a "holographical will" or "holographic will" is a testamentary document that is entirely handwritten, dated, and signed by the testator, and may be valid even without witnesses in some jurisdictions.
  • The court accepted the holographical note as a valid codicil to the will.

Variants and Related Words

• Holograph (noun): A document written entirely in the handwriting of its author.
  • The library's collection includes several holographs of 19th-century poets.
• Holographic (adjective): This is the more common variant and is synonymous with "holographical."
  • The holographic signature was verified by an expert.

Synonyms

• Autograph: Something written in a person's own handwriting, especially a signature.
• Manuscript: A book, document, or piece of music written by hand.

Notes on Meaning

• Primary Meaning: The core meaning of "holographical" pertains exclusively to the physical act of handwriting by the author. It does not refer to the modern technology of three-dimensional holograms.
• Distinction from "Hologram": It is crucial to distinguish this word from the unrelated noun "hologram," which refers to a three-dimensional image formed by the interference of light beams.

Adjective

1. written entirely in one's own hand
   • holographic document