[ad. Gr. κοσμογραφί-α description of the world, f. κοσμογράφος: see COSMOGRAPHER. Cf. F. cosmographie.]
1. The science that describes and maps the general features of the universe (both the heavens and the earth), without encroaching on the special provinces of astronomy or geography.
But formerly often = geography in its present sense, or spec. as including hydrography.
1519. Interl. Four Elem., in Hazl., Dodsley, I. 27. Of towns to know the situation, How far they be asunder, And other points of cosmography.
1549. Compl. Scot., vi. 46. Cosmaghraphie … is ane vniuersal discriptione of the varld, contenand in it the four elementis, the eird, the vattir, the ayr, and the fyir, the sone and mune, and al the sternis.
1569. J. Sanford, trans. Agrippa’s Van. Artes, 37 b. The measure of the worlde, and this is deuided into Cosmographie, and Geographie.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., 33. The Matching of both [Astronomy and Geography], hath his peculier Arte, called Cosmographie.
1594. Blundevil, Exerc., III. I. i. (ed. 7), 277. Cosmography is the description … of heaven and earth, and all that is contained therein.
1622–62. Heylin, Cosmogr., Introd. (1674), 24/2. As well of History as of Geography. Out of which two compounded and intermixt, ariseth that universal Comprehension of Natural and Civil story, which by a proper and distinct name may be termed Cosmography.
1658. Phillips, Cosmography, a description of the World, with the Climates and Circles marked upon the Globe and in Maps. Ibid. (1706), (ed. Kersey), Cosmography, a Description of the visible World; a Science which shews the Frame of the Universe, or whole World…. The two Branches of this Science are Astronomy and Geography.
1764. B. Martin, Syst. Philol., II. 33. That Science which is properly called Geography, or rather Cosmography.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U.S., I. iii. 68. Sir Humphrey Gilbert … engaged deeply in the science of cosmography.
2. A description or representation of the universe or of the earth in its general features.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 23. Pricianus Grammaticus, in his Cosmographye.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (1858), I. 89. That buik, quhilk callit is for-yi Of Pholome the greit cosmographi.
1642. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., 32. Which without further travel I can do in the Cosmography of my self.
1662. South, Serm. (1697), I. 79. The Body [of Man] … being … a little Cosmography or Map of the Universe.
1838–9. Hallam, Hist. Lit., I. iii. I. § 73. 193. Two translations [of] … the cosmography of Ptolemy.
1876. Gladstone, Homeric Synchr., 226. I am far from meaning that he had in his mind an harmonious world-plan or cosmography.
