| 1 | γραφή, ἡ
Primary Meaning: Drawing, delineation, or painting. Examples include:
- Representation by lines: κατὰ γραφήν (in outline), Herodotus 4.36; γραφῇ κοσμέειν (decorate with painting), Herodotus 3.24.
- The art of drawing or painting: Plato, Politicus 277c; Timaeus 19b.
Secondary Meaning: That which is written or the act of writing. Examples include:
- γράφω evolving into "writing" or "the art of writing" (Plato, Phaedrus 274b).
- Legal, literary, or administrative writing: αἱ γραφαὶ τῶν δικῶν (the registration of legal cases, Aristotle, Politics 1321b36); γραφαὶ περὶ συμμαχίας (treaties, ib. 1280a40).
- Documents: ψευδεῖς γραφαί (pseudo documents, Demosthenes 18.55); ἐν τῇ πρώτῃ γραφῇ (in the first book, Epicurus, Nat. Herc. 1431.16).
- Inscription, contract, or list: Thucydides 1.134; IG (epigraphy collections).
Etymology:
The word γραφή is the origin of the modern term graphics, which refers to visual representation in contemporary contexts, such as design, digital imagery, and art. This connection reflects its original sense of "drawing" or "delineation" as well as the broader concept of representation. While γραφή originally referred to "drawing" or "painting," its usage extended to encompass "writing" due to the close relationship between inscribing and artistic representation.
(cf. Logeion γραφή)
There are in fact a variety of Greek words that can be used for "scriptures" or "books" or "documents", but they are not used here:
- Συγγράφω (συγγραφή): This would be the most plain word for "writing, composition," or authoring a systematic work; often refers to books or treatises.
- Γράμμα (γράμματα): Letters, characters, drawn lines, figures, mathematical diagram; can refer to writing, literature, or written texts.
- Στίχος: A line of writing or verse, commonly used in poetry or legal contexts.
- Χάρτης (χαρτίον): A sheet of papyrus or parchment; χαρτίον is the diminutive form, meaning a small document or piece of writing.
- Πίναξ (πινάκιον): A writing tablet, often of wax or wood; πινάκιον is the diminutive form for smaller, portable tablets.
- Κύλινδρος: A scroll, referring to the physical medium of written texts.
- Χειρόγραφον: A manuscript or something written by hand.
- Βίβλος / Βιβλίον: A book or scroll; βιβλίον is the diminutive, referring to a small book or text.
- Καταγραφή Kata-graphe: Drawing of maps, delination, also record or registry, emphasizing the act of cataloging or documenting.
- Ἐπιγραφή: An inscription, often carved or engraved.
writing
noun: writing, scripture, script, style, writ, hand, quill
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Romans 1:2
