chronogram
/ˈkrɑnəˌɡræm/
noun
- An inscription, phrase, or sentence in which certain letters (usually capitalized) are interpreted as Roman numerals and added together to give a date.
- The old church cornerstone had a chronogram that revealed the year it was built.
- She deciphered the chronogram on the monument, finding the date 1776 hidden in the text.
- Historians often study chronograms to learn when certain buildings or documents were created.
- A text or design that represents a date or time using letters as numbers.
- Some modern artists use chronograms in their work to add hidden meanings.
- The poet created a chronogram for the king's coronation, embedding the year in the poem.
- The book's title page contained a chronogram that marked the year of its publication.