- photograph (n.)
- 1839, "picture obtained by photography," coined by Sir John Herschel from photo- + -graph "instrument for recording," from Greek graphe "writing," from graphein "to write, express by written characters," earlier "to draw, represent by lines drawn" (see -graphy). It won out over other suggestions, such as photogene and heliograph. Neo-Anglo-Saxonists prefer sunprint. The verb, as well as photography, are first found in a paper read before the Royal Society on March 14, 1839.