scribe English · revision 388

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /skɹaɪb/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|scribe]],^(MED) [[bor|la|scrība|t=official writer, secretary, keeper of accounts]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) partly through [[fro|scribe]],^(AHD)^(MED) from ''scrībere'' “to write”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The Latin verb goes back to a root meaning “to cut, scratch, incise”, and is akin to Greek ''skariphasthai'' “to scratch an outline”.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) In Church Latin ''scrība'' was used in the Vulgate to render Greek ''grammateús'', corresponding to Hebrew ''sōphēr'' “writer, scholar”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ The carpentry verb, “to mark with a pointed tool” (1678), is of uncertain origin, probably a shortening of [[describe]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A professional interpreter of the Jewish Law, as in the phrase “scribes and Pharisees” (late 12th century in Etymonline; probably about 1200 in Barnhart; 1377 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(MED)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the biblical sense the word widened to any public official concerned with writing or keeping records, a secretary or clerk (late 14th century).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) The sense “copyist of manuscripts” dates from 1535,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and from the 1580s it was used loosely of any author or writer,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) today often humorously of a journalist.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) A separate technical verb ''scribe'', “to mark wood or metal with a pointed instrument”, arose in carpentry in the 17th century, and the tool for this is also called a ''scribe'' (1812).^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 12th century – a teacher of the Jewish Law.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1382 – a secretary or clerk.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1467–68 – verb, to write.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1535 – a copyist of manuscripts.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1580s – a writer, an author.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1678 – verb, to mark with a pointed instrument.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1812 – a tool for scribing.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A professional copyist of [[manuscript|alt=manuscripts]] and documents, especially before the invention of [[printing]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A public [[clerk]] or secretary, especially in ancient times.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # ''(Judaism)'' One of the scholars and teachers who copied, edited and interpreted the Jewish Scriptures and law.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A writer or author, especially a [[journalist]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A pointed tool for marking wood or metal; a [[scriber]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To mark or score wood, metal or stone with a pointed instrument, as a guide for cutting or fitting.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # To work as a scribe; to write.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[scribal]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ascribe]]

+ * [[circumscribe]]

+ * [[describe]]

+ * [[inscribe]]

+ * [[prescribe]]

+ * [[proscribe]]

+ * [[shrive]]

+ * [[transcribe]]

+ * [[script]]

+ * [[conscribe]]

+ * [[subscribe]]

+ * [[superscribe]]

+ * [[scribble]]

+ * [[scripture]]

+ * [[scrivener]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}