autograph means written in the author’s own handwriting.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, autograph ranks #2,999 of 14,297 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #3,369 of 14,451 for Most Whimsical Words, #10,883 of 14,297 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words, #10,904 of 14,410 for Most Ponderous Words.
autograph is pronounced /ˈɔːtəɡɹɑːf/.
Why “autograph” is a great word
Written in a person's own hand, especially a manuscript or signature, or such a signature prized as a collectible. From the Latin *autographum*, from the Ancient Greek αὐτόγραφον (*autógraphon*, "a writing in one's own hand"), from αὐτός (*autos*, "self") and γράφειν (*graphein*, "to write"), first attested in English in the 1630s. Unlike "signature" (a formal mark of identification) or "facsimile" (an exact, mechanical copy), an autograph is the unique, original trace of a specific human gesture, elevated by its aura of celebrity. It is the smudged pencil flourish on a book’s flyleaf, the faded ink of a poet’s draft, or the hurried scrawl across a napkin—the physical proof of a moment when a person, however fleetingly, impressed their self upon the world.
Etymology
From Latin autographum, in turn from Ancient Greek αὐτόγραφον (autógraphon, “a writing in one’s own hand”). Equivalent to auto- + -graph.
adj
- Written in the author’s own handwriting.
- Made by the artist himself or herself; authentic.“Schiff […] believes most of the drawings are autograph.”
noun
- A person’s own handwriting, especially the signature of a famous or admired person.“Some autograph-hunters were pestering the players after the game.”
- A person's signature used as a mark of formal approval.“If you could just put your autograph on the ol’ contract, please…”
- A manuscript in the author’s handwriting; a handwritten copy.“An autograph of this text, made by E. Weidner, will be reproduced as plate XVII.”
verb
- To sign, or write one’s name or signature on a book, etc.“Diego Maradona is helping in the fight against coronavirus in his home city by autographing a replica of the Argentina jersey he wore in the country’s 1986 World Cup final triumph to raise money for an underprivileged community.”
- To write something in one's own handwriting.
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- signature 90% match — A person's name, written by that person, used as identification or to signify approval of accompanying material, such as a legal contract. vs autograph →
- manuscript 86% match — Handwritten, or by extension manually typewritten, as opposed to being mechanically reproduced. vs autograph →
- idiograph 85% match — A mark or signature peculiar to an individual. vs autograph →
- handwrit 84% match — manuscript; any nonprinted or handwritten text vs autograph →
- scripsit 84% match — An inscription indicating the identity of the person who wrote something. vs autograph →
- scribe 82% match — Someone who writes; a draughtsperson; a writer for another; especially, an official or public writer; an amanuensis, secretary, notary, or copyist. vs autograph →
- chirography 82% match — Synonym of handwriting or penmanship, one's personal skill at writing. vs autograph →
- postscript 82% match — An addendum to a letter, added after the author's signature. vs autograph →