polygraphy

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *pleh₁-der.

Proto-Indo-European *polh₁ús

Ancient Greek πολῠ́ς (polŭ́s)lbor.

English poly-

Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ-

Proto-Hellenic *grə́pʰō

Ancient Greek γρᾰ́φω (grắphō)

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂

Proto-Hellenic *-ā́

Ancient Greek -ᾱ (-ā)

Ancient Greek -η (-ē)

Ancient Greek γραφή (graphḗ)

Ancient Greek -γραφίᾱ (-graphíā)bor.

French -graphieder.

English -graphy

English polygraphy

From poly- + -graphy. By surface analysis, polygraph + -y.

Noun

polygraphy (uncountable)

1. Much writing; writing of many books.
2. The art of writing in various ciphers, and of deciphering the same.
3. The art or practice of using a polygraph.

References

• “polygraphy”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.