written English · revision 3407

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1300|origins=ang wrītan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈrɪt.ən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the past-participle adjective of [[write]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) [[inh|enm|writen]], also written,^(Webster's Third 1961) [[inh|ang|gewriten]], the past participle of [[m|ang|wrītan|t=to score, carve; to write]].^(Webster's Third 1961)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Composed, recorded or preserved in writing: about 1300^(Etymonline) or before 1300, when it was also used of laws established by writing.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Inscribed or carved upon” is from about 1440,^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) and “covered with writing” from 1580.^(OED 1989) “Formed with the pen”, of letters, is from 1582^(OED 1989) or the 1580s.^(Etymonline) The obsolete ''written hand'' was a cursive hand, from 1531.^(OED 1989) With adverbs, “written about, written down, written up”, it is from 1754,^(OED 1989) and a writer who is ''written out'' has exhausted his creative powers, from about 1911.^(OED 1989) “Expressed in literary form” is from 1909.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) Collins contrasts ''the written word'' with spoken language.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – composed or recorded in writing.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1440 – inscribed, carved.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)

+ * 1531 – ''written hand'', cursive.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1582 – formed with the pen.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1754 – ''written down'', ''written up''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1909 – in literary form.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Set down in [[writing]] rather than spoken: ''written evidence''.^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Of law, set down in documents or codes.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Covered with writing or inscribed.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # The past participle of ''write''.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ghostwritten]]

+ * [[typewritten]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[write]]

+ * [[writ]]

+ * [[writer]]

+ * [[unwritten]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}