arch. Also cali-. [a. F. calligraphe, ad. med.L. calligraph-us fair writer, good penman, ad. Gr. καλλιγράφος, f. καλλι- comb. stem of κάλλος beauty + -γραφος ‘writing, writer’ (sometimes also ‘written’). In this and the following cognate words the non-etymological spelling CALI- is frequently found.]
One who writes beautifully; spec. a professional transcriber of manuscripts.
1853. Fraser’s Mag., XLVII. 83. The numerous scattered works of former zealous caligraphs.
1875. M. Pattison, Casaubon, 38. The calligraphs, a race who long survived the invention of printing.
