Etymology

From the French -graphie inherited from the Latin -graphia, from , via Latin .
It often functions literally as a reference to writing (e.g. calligraphy, cartography, biography). However, it also has evolved to denote a field of study, particularly studies that involve some degree of collecting, cataloging and/or surveying (e.g. geography, demography, oceanography).

Of special note, -ography and -igraphy are not formal suffixes bearing separate connotations. The -o- (the thematic vowel) and -i- are distinct Greek suffixes.

The ultimate origin was (aorist ; Doric also ) which means "incise, write" (compare to the "carve", whence glyph) is from a PIE root , cognate to OE , MHG kerben and OCS žrěbii "lot" (which originally probably denoted a stick with carved markings). has many derivations within Greek, such as "incision, inscription", adjective γραφικός (graphic), "letters" (grammar), (grapheme),
"the act of writing", and "scribe".

Suffix

-graphy

1. something written or represented in the specified manner, or about a specified subject