anagram

¹an·a·gram

noun \ˈa-nə-ˌgram\

Definition of ANAGRAM

1

: a word or phrase made by transposing the letters of another word or phrase

2

plural but sing in constr : a game in which words are formed by rearranging the letters of other words or by arranging letters taken (as from a stock of cards or blocks) at random

— an·a·gram·mat·ic \ˌa-nə-grə-ˈma-tik\ also an·a·gram·mat·i·cal \-ti-kəl\ adjective

— an·a·gram·mat·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of ANAGRAM

1. The word “secure” is an anagram of “rescue.”

Origin of ANAGRAM

probably from Middle French anagramme, from New Latin anagrammat-, anagramma, modification of Greek anagrammatismos, from anagrammatizein to transpose letters, from ana- + grammat-, gramma letter — more at gram

First Known Use: 1589

Rhymes with ANAGRAM

aerogram, Amsterdam, Birmingham, Boulder Dam, cablegram, centigram, Christogram, chronogram, cofferdam, cryptogram, decagram, deprogram, diagram, diaphragm, epigram, fluid dram, giant clam, hard-shell clam, hexagram, histogram, Hohokam, hologram, kilogram, logogram, mammogram, milligram, Minicam, monogram, nomogram, oriflamme, pentagram, phonogram, pictogram, reprogram, Rotterdam, scattergram, self-exam, skiagram, soft-shell clam, sonogram, subprogram, telegram, tetradrachm, thank-you-ma'am, tinker's damn, Uncle Sam

²anagram

transitive verb

anagrammedanagram·ming

Definition of ANAGRAM

1

: anagrammatize

2

: to rearrange (the letters of a text) in order to discover a hidden message

First Known Use of ANAGRAM

1630