brachygraphy

English

Etymology

From French brachygraphie, from Ancient Greek βραχύς (brakhús, “short”) + -γραφία (-graphía, “writing”).

Noun

brachygraphy (countable and uncountable, plural brachygraphies)

1. (obsolete) A system of writing using abbreviations or special characters; shorthand.
   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC:
     , II.2.4:

     I would for these causes wish him that is melancholy […] to impose some task upon himself, to divert his melancholy thoughts: to study the art of memory […] , or practise brachygraphy, etc., that will ask a great deal of attention […]