telegraphed

Telegraphed is the past tense and past participle of the verb telegraph, meaning to send a message via a telegraph system, typically using electrical signals such as Morse code. In addition to its literal sense, telegraphed is frequently used figuratively to describe something that is said or shown in a direct, unmistakable way, or to indicate a planned outcome or intention in advance.

Origin and usage: The term derives from telegraph, from Greek tele- “far” and -graph “write.” The electric telegraph emerged in the early 19th century, with key developments by inventors in Britain and the United States. Morse code was standardized in the 1840s–1850s, and telegrams became a common means of rapid long-distance communication. The first successful transatlantic telegraph cable was completed in 1866, linking Europe and North America and accelerating global communication.

Contemporary usage: Today, telegraphs are largely obsolete and replaced by telephone, email, and digital networks, but the verb telegraphed remains in use in historical writing and in metaphorical contexts to suggest that information was transmitted with clarity or that an outcome was signaled early. The noun form is telegram; telegraph refers to the device or system used to send such messages.