(from the Greek ανα, backwards, and γράμμα, Anagram (Greek, letter), in matters of literature, a transposition of the letters of some name, whereby a new word is formed, either to the advantage or disadvantage of the person or thing to which the name belongs. Thus, the anagram of Galenus is alegasus; that of Logica, caligo; that of Alstedius, sedulitias; that of Loraine is alerion, on which account it was that the family of Loraine took alerions for their armoury.—Calvin, in the title of his Institutions, printed at Straßburg in 1539, calls himself Alcuinatus, which is the anagram of Calvinus, and the name of an eminently learned person in the time of Charlemagne, who contributed greatly to the restoration of learning in that age.

Those who adhere strictly to the definition of an anagram, take no other liberty than that of omitting or retaining the letter h, at pleasure; whereas others make no scruple to use e for æ, v for w, s for z, and c for k; and vice versa.

Besides anagrams formed as above, we meet with another kind in ancient writers, made by dividing a single word into several; thus, fæs linea mus, are formed out of the word fæstiniamus.

Anagrams are sometimes also made out of several words: such as that on the question put by Pilate to our Saviour, Quid est veritas? whereof we have this admirable anagram, viz. Eft vir qui adeit.

The Cabalists among the Jews are professed anagrammatists; the third part of their art, which they call themur, i.e. "changing," being nothing but the art of making anagrams, or of finding hidden and mystical meanings in names; which they do by changing, transposing, and differently combining, the letters of those names.—Thus, of the letters of Noah's name, they make ἐλέος grace; of ἐνώπιον the Messiah, they make ἐνώπιον be shall rejoice.