A breviograph (from Latin: brevis, short, and Greek grapho, to write) is a type of scribal abbreviation in the form of an easily-written symbol, character, flourish or stroke, based on a modified letter form to take the place of a common letter combination, especially those occurring at the beginning or end of a word. Breviographs were used frequently by stenographers, law clerks and scriveners, and they were also found in early printed books and tracts. Their use declined after the 17th century.