a. and sb. [f. EPIGRAPH + -IC.]
A. adj. Of or pertaining to inscriptions, or to epigraphy.
1858. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), II. 341. To bring up a loose analogy of this sort against epigraphic evidence is simply childish.
1881. R. Lanciani, in Athenæum, 9 April, 498/3. Being mostly formed of a single letter, they escape an epigraphic reconstruction.
1883. I. Taylor, Alphabet, I. 266. Unsuitable for an epigraphic alphabet.
B. sb. In pl. The science of inscriptions.
In mod. Dicts.
Hence Epigraphical a. = EPIGRAPHIC a. Epigraphically adv., in an epigraphic manner; from the point of view of epigraphic science.
1881. A. H. Sayce, in Athenæum, 13 Aug., 208/3. Skill in reading Talmudic literature does not necessarily imply epigraphical skill as well.
1884. Athenæum, 13 Sept., 344/1. The author summed up the existing records, architectural, sculptured, annalistic, literary, and epigraphical.
1884. Christian Treas., Feb., 118/1. This epigraphical silence of the Holy Land.
1883. I. Taylor, Alphabet, I. 133. Epigraphically of the same age.