Word of the Day

: August 15, 2009

chorography

noun kuh-RAH-gruh-fee

What It Means

1 : the art of describing or mapping a region or district

2 : a description or map of a region; also : the physical conformation and features of such a region

chorography in Context

This highly detailed and embellished perspective drawing of the city and the surrounding lands is a fine example of 16th-century chorography.

Did You Know?

The word "chorography" was borrowed in the 16th century from Latin "chorographia," which in turn comes from Greek "chōrographia," a combination of "chōros" ("place") and "graphia" ("writing"). Chorography was distinguished from geography in that the former was concerned with smaller regions and specific locations whereas the latter was concerned with larger regions or with the world in general. The maps and the art of mapping that once were the field of chorography have since passed into the spheres of geography and topography. As with the art it names, the word "chorography" is now primarily encountered in historical discussions of geography and cartography.