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monogram

Etymology and origin of the English word monogram

History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈmɒ.nəˌɡɹæm/ (UK); /ˈmɑ.nəˌɡɹæm/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin monogramma,[2][3][4][5] partly through French monogramme,[3][4] from Ancient Greek μονόγραμμον (monógrammon, “a character of several letters in one design”),[2][3][4] the neuter of monógrammos “consisting of a single letter; drawn in lines only”,[2][3][4] from Ancient Greek μόνος (mónos, “single, alone”) + γράμμα (grámma, “letter, line”).[2][3][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

A picture drawn in lines only, without shading or colour; a sketch (1610).[6][4]

Semantic evolution

The early sense of a sketch drawn in outline is now obsolete.[6][4] The modern sense, a character of two or more interwoven letters, usually a person's initials, dates from 1696.[6][3][5][4] The Late Greek word was used especially of the signature of the Byzantine emperors.[4] The verb, to mark with a monogram, is from 1856 in Etymonline and 1868 in the OED and Merriam-Webster.[4][6][5]

Timeline

  • 1610 – an outline sketch (obsolete).[6]
  • 1696 – interwoven initials.[6][3][5]
  • 1856 – verb, to decorate with a monogram.[4]
  • 1868 – monogrammed.[6]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A design of one or more letters, usually a person's initials, combined or interlaced and used as an identifying mark, as on stationery or clothing.

Verb

  1. To mark or decorate with a monogram.

Word family

  • monogrammatic
  • monogrammer
  • unmonogrammed
  • telegram
  • grammar
  • monologue
  • monopoly

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Monogram.” Etymologically, 10 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/monogram. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·