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DictionaryRoot: graphein
Greek

graphein

scratch, draw, write

Forms

  • graph-
  • gram- — From the related Greek noun gramma, ‘written mark; letter.’
  • grammat- — The longer stem of gramma used before grammatical endings and in compounds.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *gerbh-, ‘scratch; carve.’

Note

Drawing and writing belonged to the same activity of making marks.

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noun

holograph

A three-dimensional image recorded using light interference.

The holograph shows a three-dimensional image of a small statue.

Etymology
holoGreekwhole or complete
+graphGreekscratch, draw, write

In this optical sense, holograph is used for a hologram. The Greek elements meaning “whole” and “write” evoke recording the light information needed to reproduce depth, rather than merely a flat picture.

More examples

  • She tilts the holograph to view the image from another angle.
  • A laser records the holograph on a light-sensitive plate.
  • The museum displays holographs of several ancient objects.

Forms

holograph · holographs

holography noun — The recording of images using light interference.

holographic adjective — Relating to images recorded using light interference.

Similar words

hologram
The more usual term for this kind of three-dimensional image.