anticalligraphic
|an-ti-cal-li-graph-ic|
/ˌæn.tiˌkælɪˈɡræfɪk/
not calligraphic; against calligraphic style
Etymology
'anticalligraphic' originates from Greek elements: the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti') meaning 'against' and the root of 'calligraphic' from Greek 'kalligraphia', where 'kallos' meant 'beauty' and 'graphein' meant 'to write'.
'calligraphic' entered English via Latin/French from Greek 'kalligraphia' (meaning 'beautiful writing'); in modern English the productive prefix 'anti-' was attached to form 'anticalligraphic', literally 'against calligraphic'.
Initially 'kalligraphia' meant 'beautiful writing'; over time 'calligraphic' came to mean 'relating to elegant handwriting or stylized script', and 'anticalligraphic' evolved as a negation meaning 'opposed to or lacking those calligraphic qualities'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not calligraphic; lacking the elegance, stylistic flourishes, or formal qualities of calligraphy; opposed to or not characteristic of calligraphic writing or style.
The designer deliberately used an anticalligraphic layout to create a stark, modern contrast with the handwritten heading.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/28 05:45