chironomy
(kaɪˈrɒnəmɪ)
Also 6 chyronomie, 9 cheironomy.
[ad. L. chīronomia, a. Gr. χειρονοµία management of the hands, gesticulation, f. χειρονόµος one who practises pantomimic gestures, f. χειρο- hand + -νοµος managing, etc. In F. chironomie.]
The art or science of gesticulation, or of moving the hands according to rule in oratory, pantomime, etc.
| [1644 Bulwer (title) Chirologia..wherevnto is added Chironomia or the Art of Manual Rhetorick.] 1670 R. Lassels Voy. Italy Pref. (1698) 26 He must have..a chironomy or decent acting with his hands. 1847 Grote Greece IV. ii. xxix. 114 Cheironomy, or the decorous and expressive movement of the hands. |
¶ Used by an etymological conceit for ‘hand law’ with allusion to chirograph.
| 1569 J. Sa[nford] tr. Agrippa's Van. Artes 121 b, A solemne Chyronomie, or hand law and prescript woordes. |
So † chiˈronomer, one who practises or professes chironomy; chiroˈnomic a., and (badly) † chironoˈmatic a., of or pertaining to chironomy; chironomon, -ont [L. chīronomōn, Gr. χειρονοµῶν, -οῦντα] = Chironomer.
| 1644 Bulwer Chirol. & Chiron. 13 Give me, quoth he, Royall Sir, this Chironomer. 1649 ― Pathomyot. i. §6. 36 To see in a Chironomer..the Muscles of his Hand should bee directed so swiftly to the Nerves of his instrument. a 1693 Urquhart Rabelais iii. xix. 159 A Chironomatick Italianising of his Demand, with various Jectigation of his Fingers. 1746 W. Melmoth tr. Pliny's Lett. ix. Let. 34 note (R.), Chironomic art, so much studied by the antients. 1850 Kingsley Alt. Locke xxi. 155 Assisting his meditations by certain mysterious chironomic signs. 1644 Bulwer Chirol. & Chiron. 12 The first man that usurped the name of Chironomon or Pantomime among the Romans was Pylades. Ibid. Lipsius confounds these structores or carvers, with the Chironomonts. |