repr. Gr. τεχνο-, combining form of τέχνη art, occurring in TECHNOLOGY, etc.; also in the following rare terms: Technography [-GRAPHY], the description of the arts, forming the preliminary stage of technology (TECHNOLOGY 1); hence Technographer, one versed in technography; Technographic a. Techno-mechanic a. (nonce-wd.), pertaining to mechanical art (in quot. absol. as sb.). Technonomy [-NOMY], the practical application of the principles of the arts, forming the final stage of technology; hence Technonomic a. (Cent. Dict., 1891).
1833. Sarah Austin, Charac. Goethe, I. 187. Persuaded of the co-operation of the Techno-mechanic with the Dynamo-ideal, [I] had Seebeck’s cross embroidered like damask, and could now see it in whatever light I chose, clear or dim, on an uniform surface.
1868. W. H. Thompson, The Phaedrus of Plato, 96, note. The first technographer, he [Aristotle] says, was Tisias, then came Thrasymachus, and thirdly Theodorus.
1881. Mason, in Smithsonian Rep., 501. Observing and descriptive stage…. Technography. Inductive and classifying stage…. Technology. Deductive and predictive stage…. Technonomy.
1895. Funk’s Stand. Dict., Technographic.
1900. Amer. Anthropologist, Jan.–March, 164. There are two ways of looking at human inventions, the one ethnographic, the other technographic. Ibid. The technographer pursues a single art over time and place until he knows it thoroughly.
