Also 7 -graphie, and (erron.) 7 brachyo-, 78 brachi-. [a. F. brachygraphie, f. Gr. βραχύ-ς short + -γραφία writing.] The art or practice of writing with abbreviations or with abbreviated characters; shorthand, stenography. Also attrib. Obs. except as a designation of certain old systems of shorthand, esp. that of Gurney (see quot. 1778).
1590. P. Bale (title), The art of brachygraphie, that is, to write as fast as a man speaketh treatably.
1600. Nashe, Summers Last W., in Hazl., Dodsl., VIII. 41. If I wist there were any such knavery, or Peter Balis brachygraphy.
1620. W. Folkingham (title), Brachigraphy, post-writ, or, the art of short-writing.
1667. E. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. III. x. (1743), 226. Therein are taught Calligraphy, Brachigraphy, or Short-Hand, [etc.].
1778. J. Gurney, Brachygr., Pref. 1. Brachygraphy is extremely antient, (for we read of its being practised in the Roman Senate).
1884. Leeds Merc. Wkly. Suppl., 15 Nov., 8/3. The system of brachygraphy in which the contents of the volume were shrouded.
b. fig.
1656. trans. Hobbes Elem. Philos. (1839), 316. The brachygraphy of the analytics, and an art of registering with brevity the inventions of geometricians.
1715. trans. Pancirollus Rerum Mem., II. x. 334. These Curiosities are the Brachigraphy or Short-hand of Art.
Brachygrapher, a shorthand-writer; Brachygraphic, -al, of or pertaining to brachygraphy.
1633. T. Adams, Comm. 2 Pet. i. 9. By brachygraphical characters they will take a sermon verbatim.
1654. Gayton, Festiv. Notes, I. viii. 28 (R.). He asked the Brachygrapher, whether he wrote the notes of that Sermon, or something of his own conception?
1782. Gentl. Mag., LII. 219. Memoirs of the most eminent brachygraphers.