Chrysography
/krɪˈsɒɡ.rə.fi/noun
The art or practice of writing in gold or with gold ink.
Did you know?Byzantine and medieval scribes used gold ink in sacred manuscripts, visually marking divine words as materially precious.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
χρυσός (khrusos)
“Gold; the precious yellow metal”
Ancient Greek
Greek
γράφειν (graphein)
“To scratch, carve, or write”
Late Ancient Greek
Greek
χρυσογραφία (chrysographia)
“Writing in gold or with gold ink”
Late Antiquity–Middle Ages
Greek/Latin
chrysographia
“Gold writing, especially in manuscripts and religious texts”
17th Century
English
chrysography
“The art of writing in gold”
Modern English
English
chrysography
“The practice or art of producing gold writing”
Explore more surprising origins