Telegram
/ˈtɛl.ɪ.ɡræm/noun
A message sent by telegraph.
Did you know?The word 'telegram' comes from roots meaning 'distant writing', but it also hints at the age-old desire to communicate across realms, almost like magic!
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
tēle
“far, distant”
Ancient Greek
Greek
grāmmē
“something written, a letter”
19th Century
English
telegram
“a message sent by telegraph, literally 'distant writing' created for rapid communication”
20th Century
English
telegram
“widely used, becoming synonymous with urgent or important messages transmitted over long distances”
Explore more surprising origins