The history of anagrams

ANAGRAMS are not quite so modern as you might, perhaps, imagine. According to some historians, anagrams originated in the 4th century BC with the Greek poet Lycophron who used them to flatter the rich and mighty. Other sources suggest that Pythagoras, in the 6th century BC, used anagrams to discover deep philosophical meanings.

Anagrams started to become popular in Europe in the Middle Ages. In the days of French royalty, Louis XIII actually appointed a royal anagrammatist, Thomas Billon, to entertain the court with amusing anagrams of peoples' names. However, the principal activity of anagrammatists in the Middle Ages was in forming anagrams on religious texts (see Biblia Anagramatica by Walter Begley on the Anagram Books page).

In the past authors have anagrammed their names to create pseudonyms. For example, Francios Rabelais became Alcofribas Nasier and Calvinus became Alcvinus.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, scientists, such as Galileo, Huygens and Robert Hooke, often recorded their results in anagram form to stake their claim on a discovery and prevent anyone else from claiming the credit.

The 19th century brought into vogue anagramming the names of famous persons, something which is still very popular today. This era also gave us the cognate anagram, where the anagram has some relevance to the original, e.g. an anagram of "Astronomer" is "Moon starer".

Another popular use for anagrams in the present day is in clues for cryptic crosswords

Mother-in-law: Woman Hitler

The earthquakes: That queer shake

Debit card: Bad credit

Slot machines: Cash lost in 'em

School master: The classroom

Eleven plus two: Twelve plus one

Dormitory: Dirty room

Punishment: Nine Thumps

Desperation: A rope ends it The Morse code: Here come dots

Snooze alarms: Alas! No more Z's

A decimal point: I'm a dot in place

Astronomer: Moon starer

Fir cones: Conifers

The eyes: They see

Payment received: Every cent paid me

Conversation: Voices rant on

The public art galleries: Large picture halls, I bet

Elvis: Lives

Clint Eastwood: Old West action

Margaret Thatcher: That great charmer

Alec Guinness: Genuine class

Virginia Bottomley: I'm an evil Tory bigot

Monica Lewinsky: Nice silky woman

William Shakespeare: 1. I am a weakish speller 2. He's like a lamp, I swear

Adolf Hitler: Do real filth

The End of the World is nigh!: Down this hole, frightened.

The best things in life are free: Nail-biting refreshes the feet!

A stitch in time saves nine: Is this meant as incentive?