grapho-, graph-, -graph, -graphy, -grapher, -graphia

(Greek: to scratch; to write, to record, to draw, to describe; that which is written or described)

As indicated at the bottom of this page, there is a significantly large number of graphic word-entry groups in this unit. Such an extensive listing is provided to show how important the grapho- element is to the English language.

ichthyograph
ichthyographia
An article or report written about fish.
ichthyographic
A reference to a written description about fish.
ichthyography
A written description about fish.
iconograph (s) (noun), iconographs (pl)
1. A drawing, engraving, or illustration for a book.
2. The description or illustration of any subject by means of drawings or figures; such as, any book or work in which this is done.
3. The branch of knowledge that deals with the representation of people or objects by any application of the arts of design.
4. A symbolic representation; especially, the conventional meanings attached to an image or images.
5. The study or analysis of subject matter and its meaning in the visual arts; iconology.
6. A representation or a group of representations of a person, place, or thing; such as, a portrait or a collection of portraits.
iconographer (s) (noun), iconographers (pl)
Someone who makes images or pictorial representations of deities related to worship.
iconographic (adjective)
Representing by means of pictures, diagrams, or descriptions of representational works of art.
iconography (s) (noun), iconographies (pl)
1. The images and symbolic representations that are traditionally associated with a person or a subject.
2. Subject matter in the visual arts; especially, with reference to the conventions regarding the treatment of a subject in artistic representation.
3. The study or analysis of subject matter and its meaning in the visual arts; iconology.
4. A representation or a group of representations of a person, place, or thing; such as, a portrait or a collection of portraits.
5. The art of representing or illustrating by means of pictures, images, or figures; a symbolic and metaphorical representation of a particular subject.

It is sometimes considered a component of cognitive archaeology, in which artistic representations which usually have an overt religious or ceremonial significance are studied.

Iconography is also the study of statues and images, bas-reliefs, busts, medals, etc. The earliest iconographical studies were published in the 16th century.

Extensive iconographical study did not begin in Europe until the 18th century; however, when, as a companion to archaeology, it consisted of the classification of subjects and motifs in ancient monuments.

iconomatography
Writing that describes a stage intermediate between picture-writing and phonetic writing, in which pictures or representations of objects stand not for the objects themselves, but for their names considered merely as phonetic elements, as in a pictorial rebus, or the use made by the Chinese of the sounds of their characters to express the sound of a foreign word.
ideography
A character or symbol representing an idea or a thing without expressing the pronunciation of a particular word or words for it, as in the traffic sign commonly used for “no parking” or “parking prohibited.”
idiograph
1. One’s private mark or signature.
2. A signature or mark characteristic of, or peculiar to a particular person, organization, etc.
3. A logotype or trademark.
idiographic
1. Concentrating on particular cases and the unique traits or functioning of individuals, rather than on broad generalizations about human behavior.

Idiographic research methods in psychology include the case study, which is characterized by the distinctiveness of each case.

2. Pertaining to the characteristics or behavior of a particular individual as an individual, as opposed to people in general.
3. A reference to, or descriptive of, single and unique facts and processes.
idiomography
A description of idioms.
idolographical
Descriptive writing about idols.
immunoscintigraphy
1. An imaging procedure in which antibodies labeled with radioactive substances are given to the patient then a picture is taken of sites in the body where the antibody localizes.
2. Scintigraphic imaging of a lesion using labeled monoclonal antibodies or antibody fragments which are specific for the antigen associated with the lesion.

Related "writing" word units: glypto-; gram-; scrib-, script-.