[ad. Gr. type τηλεγράφημα, f. *τηλεγραφεῖν to TELEGRAPH. (Both used in mod. Gr.)] A word suggested instead of TELEGRAM, as being more correctly formed; but never generally adopted.
1857. R. Shilleto, in Times, 15 Oct., 7/5. May I suggest to such as are not contented with ‘Telegraphic Despatch’ the rightly constructed word ‘telegrapheme’? I do not want it, but … I protest against such a barbarism as ‘telegram.’
1867. Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., Jan., 53. The word telegram superseded telegrapheme.
1873. [see TELEGRAM].
1896. Westm. Gaz., 22 Feb., 8/2. The public … absolutely revolted against telegrapheme, and insisted on telegram, though … the famous Cambridge scholar Shilleto always talked about ‘sending a telegrapheme’—never a telegram.
