[Ultimately ad. Gr. καλλιγραφία, sb. of quality f. καλλιγράφ-ος: see CALLIGRAPH sb.1: perhaps immediately from L. calligraphia or F. calligraphie.]
1. Beautiful or fair writing as a product; also, elegant penmanship as an art or profession.
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Calligraphie, faire writing.
1632. B. Jonson, Magn. Lady, III. iv. I have to commend me … my kalligraphy, a fair hand, Fit for a secretary.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v., Calligraphy made an article in the manual labour of the antient monks.
1816. Singer, Hist. Cards, 93. Calligraphy was also another art which received considerable attention.
1866. Felton, Anc. & Mod. Gr., I. xii. 498. The age of calligraphy is gone.
2. Handwriting, penmanship generally; style of handwriting or written characters; a person’s characteristic handwriting or ‘hand.’
1645. Milton, Colast., Wks. (1847), 221/2. A divine of note had … stuck it here and there with a clove of his own calligraphy, to keep it from tainting.
1856. Househ. Wds., XIII. 240. His calligraphy suggests … the skating of an intoxicated sweep over a sheet of ice.
1859. Gullick & Timbs, Paint., 100. The study of the calligraphy, or penmanship, of ancient MSS.
1880. Earle, Philol. E. T., § 99. In the eleventh century the fashion of our calligraphy was changed.
† 3. Belles-lettres. Obs.
1860. Worcester cites R. Park.
