[f. Gr. λέξι-ς word, expression + -γραφία writing, -GRAPHY.] A system of writing in which each character represents a word. Hence Lexigraphic, -graphical adjs., pertaining to or characterized by lexigraphy. (In quot. 1895, lexigraphical is used for ‘lexical’: cf. note below.) Also Lexigraphically adv.
In Dicts. from Webster 1828 onwards, lexigraphy has been defined as ‘the art or practice of defining words,’ with corresp. definitions for lexigraphic, -graphical. Cf. late Gr. λεξιγράφος ‘lexici scriptor, vocabularius’ (Stephanus).
1828–33. Webster, Lexigraphy, the art or practice of defining words (citing Med. Repos.).
1836. Du Ponceau, Chinese Syst. Writing (1838), 36. The Chinese system of writing is improperly called ideographic; it is a syllabic and lexigraphic alphabet…. It is lexigraphic because every syllable is a significant word. Ibid. (1838), Introd. 14. Instead of ideas, it only represents words, by means of the combination of other words, and therefore I have called it lexigraphic. [In a quotation from this in For. Q. Rev., XXI. 323, lexigraphy is substituted for lexigraphic.] Ibid. (1838), 32. Those nations … who use the Chinese characters lexigraphically.
1855. Ogilvie, Suppl., Lexigraphic, Lexigraphical, expressing words by distinct characters; representing words by the combination of other words. Lexigraphy, a representation of words by the combination of other words.
1895. W. Boscawen, Bible & Monuments, vi. 165. The lexigraphical tablet in which this important word is found throws considerable light on the meaning. In the list of words from which the name is taken [etc.].
