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Monogram vs Initials - What's the difference?

monogram | initials |

As nouns the difference between monogram and initials

is that monogram is a picture drawn in line only, before the colour and/or shading is applied; an outline sketch while initials is plural of lang=enCategory:English plurals.

As a verb monogram

is to mark something with a monogram.

monogram

English

Alternative forms

* monogramme (obsolete)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) monogramme, from the Classical (etyl) adjective monogrammus, from the conjectured (etyl) * .

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) A picture drawn in line only, before the colour and/or shading is applied; an outline sketch.
  • References

    * “ †monogram, n.''¹]” listed in the '' [draft revision; Mar. 2010

    Etymology 2

    Formed as , by analogy with epigram.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete, rare) A sentence consisting of only one line, or an epigram consisting of only one verse, of poetry.
  • References

    * “ †monogram, n.''²]” listed in the ''Oxford English Dictionary [draft revision; Mar. 2010

    Etymology 3

    The noun derives from the post-Classical (etyl) monogrammum, itself from the (etyl) ; compare the (etyl) and (etyl) monogramme, as well as the (etyl) monogramma. The verb derives from the noun; compare the earlier adjective monogrammed and the slightly earlier noun monogramming.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A design composed of one or more letters, often intertwined, used as an identifying mark of an individual or institution.
  • References
    * “ monogram, n.''³]” listed in the ''Oxford English Dictionary [draft revision; Mar. 2010

    Verb

    (monogramm)
  • To mark something with a monogram.
  • References
    * “ monogram, v.'']” listed in the ''Oxford English Dictionary [draft revision; Mar. 2010

    initials

    English

    Noun

    (head)
  • English plurals
  • (plurale tantum) An abbreviation of a person's name, constructed by taking the initial letters of first, last, and sometimes middle name. See monogram