Spencerian

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to or characteristic of a style of cursive handwriting developed in the 19th century noted for its elegance and uniformity ; associated with a system of penmanship emphasizing fluid, flowing strokes ; pertaining to instructional methods promoting neat and legible script writing
2. Connected to a distinctive American handwriting style from the 1800s known for ornamental and rhythmic lettering ; linked to an educational approach for teaching writing with an emphasis on smooth, continuous movement ; describing a traditional technique of forming letters with graceful and consistent curves
3. Pertaining to a handwriting method created by an American educator that favors elegant, rounded letters in a continuous flow ; related to a formal system aimed at producing beautiful penmanship through practiced strokes ; concerning a style of script writing that balances practicality with artistic flair in letter formation

Etymology: Platt Rogers Spencer (1800–1864), an American penmanship teacher from Ohio, spent his career designing a flowing, connected style of handwriting meant to replace the cramped, angular scripts of the day. His system, published in the mid-nineteenth century, was taught widely in American schools and business colleges, and its looped, slanted letterforms became the model for the elegant hand that the adjective describes. The word is simply Spencer's name with the suffix "-ian", the same ending found in words like "Lutheran" or "Darwinian", which marks something belonging to or associated with a person. So "Spencerian" means "of or in the manner of Spencer", and the name became a shorthand for fine, ornamental penmanship in general.

Synonyms: spencer script, spencer handwriting, spencer style