tetragram

[Greek tetra-, and gramme =a line. 1. A word of four letters. [TETRAGRAMΜΑΤΟΝ.] "A host of other words, significant of Deity, are tetra grams." -Brewer: Phrase and Fable , s. v. Tetragrammaton. 2. Geom .: A figure formed by four right lines. tět-ra-grăm-ma-ton, s . [Gr. to tetragrammaton the word of four letters; tetragrammatos =of four letters; tetra- , and gramma (gen it. grammatos )=a letter.] 1. The sacred Hebrew name of the Deity (YHVH), from the fact that in the Rabbinical writings it is distinguished by by various euphemistic expre ions; as, "the name," "the name of four letters," . "In his sacred confe ions he [the high priest] had to pronounce ten times the sacred Tetragrammaton -the ineffable name of Jehovah."- Farrar : Early Days of Chris tianity, ch. xviii., § 5. 2. Hence, applied to other words of four letters expre ive of Deity.