zoography, n.

zoography
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoography_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2017

# zoographynoun

## Earlier version

- zoography in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zoography mean?

There are three meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun zoography. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

zoography has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

animals (late 1500s) painting (mid 1600s)

### How common is the noun zoography?

Fewer than 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

1750 | 0.013
1760 | 0.012
1770 | 0.011
1780 | 0.011
1790 | 0.0078
1800 | 0.0081
1810 | 0.0084
1820 | 0.0046
1830 | 0.0035
1840 | 0.0026
1850 | 0.0018
1860 | 0.0019
1870 | 0.0018
1880 | 0.0017
1890 | 0.0019
1900 | 0.0021
1910 | 0.0021
1920 | 0.002
1930 | 0.0019
1940 | 0.0018
1950 | 0.0017
1960 | 0.0015
1970 | 0.0013
1980 | 0.0013
1990 | 0.001
2000 | 0.0009
2010 | 0.0008

### How is the noun zoography pronounced?

#### British English

/zuːˈɒɡrəfi/
zoo-OG-ruh-fee
/zəʊˈɒɡrəfi/
zoh-OG-ruh-fee

#### U.S. English

/zuˈɑɡrəfi/
zoo-AH-gruh-fee
/zoʊˈɑɡrəfi/
zoh-AH-gruh-fee

### Where does the noun zoography come from?

Earliest known use

late 1500s

The earliest known use of the noun zoography is in the late 1500s.

OED's earliest evidence for zoography is from 1593, in the writing of Richard Harvey, astrologer and polemicist.

zoography is formed within English, by compounding.

Etymons: zoo- comb. form, ‑graphy comb. form.

### Nearby entries

1. zoogloeic, adj. 1883–
2. zoogonic, adj. 1787–
3. zoogonidium, n. 1857–
4. zoogony, n. 1675–
5. zoograph, n. 1623
6. zoographer, n. 1646–
7. zoographic, adj. 1741–
8. zoographical, adj. 1651–
9. zoographically, adv. 1835–
10. zoographist, n. 1749–1874
11. zoography, n.1593–
12. zoogyroscope, n. 1880–
13. zooid, n. 1851–
14. zooid, adj. 1849
15. zooidal, adj. 1858–
16. zooidogamous, adj. 1891–
17. zookeeper, n. 1886–
18. zookeeping, n. 1929–
19. Zookers, int. 1620–
20. Zooks, int. 1600–
21. zoolater, n. 1876–

## Etymology

### Summary

Formed within English, by compounding.
Etymons: zoo- comb. form, ‑graphy comb. form.
< zoo- comb. form + ‑graphy comb. form.

In sense 1a perhaps after post-classical Latin zoographia description of animals (1579 or earlier).

In sense 2 after ancient Greek ζῳγραϕία (art of) painting (perhaps originally…
< zoo- comb. form + ‑graphy comb. form.

In sense 1a perhaps after post-classical Latin zoographia description of animals (1579 or earlier).

In sense 2 after ancient Greek ζῳγραϕία (art of) painting (perhaps originally painting from life: see zoograph n.).

## Meaning & use

1. 1. 1.a.
      1593–
      The description of animals and their characteristics, descriptive zoology; a work containing descriptions of animals. Cf. phytography n. 1. In early use also: †description of something or someone as an animal (obsolete). Now chiefly historical.
      1. 1593

         > When men play the parts of beasts, let them go among the numbers of cattel in Zoography and keepe their fit place.

         R. Harvey, Philadelphus 97
      2. 1651

         > We are now come to that rare piece of Zoography of thine, the world drawn out in the shape of an Animal.

         H. More, Second Lash of Alazonomastix 65
      3. 1671

         > But intending no Zoography, I pass from this [sc. the camel] and other Tame Quadrupeds, to observe that Barbary hath all sorts of Beasts that are called Wild.

         L. Addison, West Barbary 99
      4. 1704

         > All we could agree upon would be, that Clouds there were, but that I was grosly mistaken in the Zoography and Topography of them.

         J. Swift, Tale of Tub Epistle Ded. 8
      5. 1777

         > While taste is pleased with elegance, and the heart susceptible of sympathy, the study of Zoography must be interesting.

         Beauties Natural History p. xiii
      6. 1841

         > The zoography of Pallas (completed in 1811, and first published in 1831), has been considerably augmented by Eichwald.

         Monthly Review March 314
      7. 1865

         > With regard to species and groups of species, (a) their complete description or Zoography; (b) their systematic arrangement or Taxonomy.

         Natural History Review July 352
      8. 1972

         > Natural history is itself treated sacredly, partly as in such sacred zoögraphies as the Historia Animalium Sacra of Franzius.

         E. Miner, John Dryden 255
      9. 2001

         > Péron's great plan for a separate volume on the zoography of the voyage also failed to win the support of the authorities.

         A. Moyal, Platypus 28
      animals historical
      1. zoography 1593–
         The description of animals and their characteristics, descriptive zoology; a work containing descriptions of animals. Cf. phytography, n. 1. In…
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   2. 1.b.
      1869–
      The geographical distribution of animals; the branch of science dealing with this; = zoogeography n.
      1. 1869

         > Of like importance is Dr. Smitt's voluminous synopsis of the Arctic and boreal Bryozoa, which..has established, I believe, this part of zoögraphy on quite a new base.

         American Naturalist vol. 3 215
      2. 1896

         > The subject of separation or isolation in its bearings on geology and zoography is discussed by A. E. Ortmann.

         Science 10 July 56/2
      3. 1946

         > Admitted that zoography and phytogeography are by no means to be considered as being one and the same science.

         T. Barbour, Naturalist's Scrapbook vi. 109
      4. 1999

         > Local zoography may be better predicted with more accurate estimates of local reproductive parameters.

         Journal Zoo & Wildlife Medicine vol. 30 361/2
      animals
      1. tetrapodology 1764–1860
         A treatise on quadrupeds; the branch of zoology concerned with quadrupeds.
      2. zoophysiology 1803–
         Animal physiology.
      3. animal science 1819–
         (Originally) the branch of natural science or biology dealing with the animal kingdom (= zoology, n. 1) (now rare); spec. (in later use) zoological…
      4. zoochemistry 1835–
         The biochemistry of animals.
      5. animal psychology 1838–
         The study of animal behaviour; ethology.
      6. marine zoology 1840–
         The study of animals living in the sea.
      7. palaeozoology 1843–
         The branch of zoology that deals with extinct and fossil animals.
      8. zoogeography 1851–
         The geographical distribution of animals; the branch of science dealing with this. Cf. biogeography, n., phytogeography, n.
      9. cainozoology 1861–
         (See quot.)
      10. zoography 1869–
          The geographical distribution of animals; the branch of science dealing with this; = zoogeography, n.
      11. ethology 1874–
          Zoology. Originally: the scientific study of the natural history or ecology of animals (now historical and rare). In later use: the scientific…
      12. zoophysics 1887–
          The scientific study of the physical structure of animals; comparative anatomy.
      13. animal behaviour 1888–
          The behaviour of animals; (in later use) esp. the study of this as a branch of zoology (cf. ethology, n. 4).
      14. neontology 1889–
          The branch of biology, esp. of zoology, concerned with extant or recently living organisms, as opposed to fossil or extinct forms. Often contrasted…
      15. zoopraxography 1891–
          a. The branch of knowledge that deals with animal motion. b. A series of photographs of a moving subject, esp. an animal, used to portray…
      16. ethnozoology 1899–
          The traditional knowledge and customs of a people concerning animals; the scientific study or description of this.
      17. behavioural scientist 1940–
          An expert in or student of one or more of the behavioural sciences.
      18. zoosemiotics 1963–
          (In plural with singular agreement) the study of communication through semiosis or the use of signs, within and across animal species.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
2. 2.
   1656–
   The depiction in painting or art of animals or living creatures. Also (chiefly with specific allusion to ancient Greek or Latin): pictorial art in general. rare.
   1. 1656

      > Zoography..the painting or picturing of beasts.

      T. Blount, Glossographia
   2. 1814

      > The earlier writers on art,..who flourished before the age of Trajan and the Antonines, constantly entitle their books on zoographers, on zoography—this was their only usual denomination for painting, as if still life did not merit the name.

      Monthly Magazine 1 June 406/1
   3. 1865

      > Daniell, Wm., R.A. Artist. (Zoögraphy; Oriental Scenery).

      C. Hole, Brief Biogr. Dictionary 123
   4. 1951

      > Zoography... On most fine days students are to be seen trying to put the animals on paper.

      Manchester Guardian Weekly 1 September 4
   5. 1976

      > Here painting—zoography—betrays being and speech, words and things themselves because it freezes them.

      G. C. Spivak, translation of J. Derrida, Of Grammatology ii. iv. 292
   painting
   1. zoography 1656–
      The depiction in painting or art of animals or living creatures. Also (chiefly with specific allusion to ancient Greek or Latin): pictorial art…
   2. animal painting 1759–
      The painting of animals; this as a genre.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. portraiture a1393–
      The action or art of portraying a person or object; the representation of an object by painting, drawing, etc.; the genre or technique of…
   2. portray c1415–1877
      The action of portraying something; (a) portrayal; a portrait. Also figurative.
   3. picture?a1439–
      The art or process of pictorial representation; the fact or condition of being pictorially represented; painting and drawing; the visual arts. Now…
   4. similitude a1450–1500
      A painted or carved image; a depiction. Obsolete.
   5. depicture?a1513–
      = depiction, n.; depicting; painting.
   6. figuration 1570–
      The action or an act of representing something in any of various ways; the result of this. A representation or likeness of a person or thing; a…
   7. zography 1570
      Cf. zoography, n.
   8. picturing 1585–
      The action of making a picture by painting, drawing, etc.; depiction. Also concrete: a pictorial representation, a picture. Now rare.
   9. description 1590–
      A representation in art; a picture, painting, sculpture, etc., representing a person or thing. Now somewhat rare, and usually coloured by or…
   10. delineament 1593–
       The action of describing, marking out, portraying, or outlining something; delineation. Also: an act or instance of this; a description, outline, or…
   11. delineation 1594–
       The representation of a person or thing in pictorial form; portrayal, depiction; (concrete) a picture or likeness. Also: the representation or…
   12. delineature 1611–
       The action or an act of portraying something or someone in words, art, or on stage; description; representation. Cf. delineation, n.
   13. figurature 1618
       A depiction, an illustration.
   14. depiction 1688–
       The action of depicting; painted representation, picture; graphic description.
   15. zoography 1814–
       The depiction in painting or art of animals or living creatures. Also (chiefly with specific allusion to ancient Greek or Latin): pictorial art…
   16. portrayal 1847–
       The action of portraying something by painting, drawing, photography, etc.; a pictorial representation, a picture, a portrait.
   17. depicturing 1850–
   18. depicturement a1866–
   19. pictorialism 1869–
       Pictorial representation or style; spec. photography in which the aim is to create pictures of aesthetic merit, irrespective of subject matter…
   20. depicting 1885–
   21. pictorialization 1901–
       The practice or an instance of representing something pictorially.
   22. picturization 1913–
       The action of representing in a picture or making into a picture; esp. cinematic or television adaptation; an instance of this.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/zuːˈɒɡrəfi/
zoo-OG-ruh-fee
/zəʊˈɒɡrəfi/
zoh-OG-ruh-fee

### U.S. English

/zuˈɑɡrəfi/
zoo-AH-gruh-fee
/zoʊˈɑɡrəfi/
zoh-AH-gruh-fee

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Forms

### Variant forms

1. 1500s–
   zoography
2. 1600s–
   zoögraphy

## Frequency

zoography typically occurs fewer than 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.

zoography is in frequency band 2, which contains words occurring between 0.001 and 0.01 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of zoography, n., 1750–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1750 | 0.013
1760 | 0.012
1770 | 0.011
1780 | 0.011
1790 | 0.0078
1800 | 0.0081
1810 | 0.0084
1820 | 0.0046
1830 | 0.0035
1840 | 0.0026
1850 | 0.0018
1860 | 0.0019
1870 | 0.0018
1880 | 0.0017
1890 | 0.0019
1900 | 0.0021
1910 | 0.0021
1920 | 0.002
1930 | 0.0019
1940 | 0.0018
1950 | 0.0017
1960 | 0.0015
1970 | 0.0013
1980 | 0.0013
1990 | 0.001
2000 | 0.0009
2010 | 0.0008

## Compounds & derived words

Sort by

1. zoographical, adj. 1651–
   Of or relating to the description or…

1. zoographic, adj. 1741–
   Of or relating to the description of animals and…

1. zoographist, n. 1749–1874
   A person who produces descriptions of animals and…

zoography, n. was revised in June 2017.

zoography, n. was last modified in July 2023.