a.; also 7 alphabetique. [perh. ad. Fr. alphabétique (not in Cotgr., 1611); cf. It. alfabetico (Florio, 1598), Sp. alphabetico (Minsheu, 1623): see ALPHABET and -IC.]
† 1. Arranged in order of the alphabet. Obs.
1642. Howell, For. Trav., 23. In reading hee must couch in a faire Alphabetique Paper-book the notablest occurences.
2. Of, pertaining to, or by means of an alphabet; or by letters representing simple sounds.
1736. H. Coventry, Philem. to Hyd. (ed. 4), iv. 303 (T.). The author probably had his eye upon alphabetic writing in his own time.
c. 1799. K. White, Childhood, I. 66. Enur’d to alphabetic toils.
1858. Marsh, Lect. Eng. Lang., ii. 31. The visible language of written alphabetic characters.
1864. H. Spencer, Illust. Progr., 19. It is alleged that the Egyptians never actually achieved complete alphabetic writing.
