calligraphy
noun
cal·lig·ra·phy
kə-ˈli-grə-fē 
1
a
: artistic, stylized, or elegant handwriting or lettering
b
: the art of producing such writing
2
3
: an ornamental line in drawing or painting
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Kalli- is a Greek root meaning "beautiful", and "beautiful" in the case of calligraphy means artistic, stylized, and elegant. Calligraphy has existed in many cultures, including Indian, Persian, and Islamic cultures; Arabic puts a particularly high value on beautiful script, and in East Asia calligraphy has long been considered a major art. Calligraphers in the West use pens with wide nibs, with which they produce strokes of widely differing width within a single letter.
Examples of calligraphy in a Sentence
she specializes in scrollwork with beautiful calligraphy
Recent Examples on the Web
Just beyond American 18th-century furniture is Japanese calligraphy.
—
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 10 Dec. 2024
Likely dating from the ninth to 10th centuries, the Blue Qur'an is one of the world's most renowned productions of the religious text and a notable example of Islamic calligraphy.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024
On the contrary, Islam flourished through calligraphy.
—Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
With the brand’s roots as a travel agency, the concept store is based on exploration and scouts treasures from every corner of the country, from food and drink to crafts such as calligraphy.
—Rhonda Richford, WWD, 24 Sep. 2024
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Justin Davidson, Curbed, 10 Dec. 2024
Likely dating from the ninth to 10th centuries, the Blue Qur'an is one of the world's most renowned productions of the religious text and a notable example of Islamic calligraphy.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024
On the contrary, Islam flourished through calligraphy.
—Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
With the brand’s roots as a travel agency, the concept store is based on exploration and scouts treasures from every corner of the country, from food and drink to crafts such as calligraphy.
—Rhonda Richford, WWD, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for calligraphy
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Cite this Entry
“Calligraphy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calligraphy. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
calligraphy
noun
cal·lig·ra·phy
kə-ˈlig-rə-fē
1
a
: beautiful handwriting
b
: the art of producing such handwriting
calligrapher
noun
-rə-fər
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