writer English · revision 3918

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 888|origins=ang wrītan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɹaɪ.tə(ɹ)/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɹaɪ.təɹ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|writere]],^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|wrītere|t=one who can write; clerk, scribe, copyist]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) an agent noun from [[m|ang|wrītan|t=to write]] with -ere.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[write]].^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English wrītere meant a clerk or scribe and also a writer of philosophical or literary works:^(Etymonline) the OED has the author about 888, the clerk about 890 and a person who can write about 897.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By about 1200 it was used of the writer of a letter,^(Etymonline) and in Middle English also of a chronicler or translator.^(Etymonline) It is a surname by the late 13th century (Adam le Wrytar).^(Etymonline) In Scotland a writer was a lawyer or law agent, especially in country towns (from 1540),^(OED 1989)^(Wright 1898) and a Writer to the Signet a clerk of the Secretary of State's office, later a solicitor (1488).^(OED 1989) A clerk of the East India Company is from 1676,^(OED 1989) and a sign-painter from 1837.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Writer's cramp'' is attested by 1843^(Etymonline) and ''writer's block'' by 1950.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 888 – an author.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 890 – a clerk, a scribe.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1200 – the writer of a letter.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1540 – a Scottish lawyer.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1837 – a sign-painter.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1843 – ''writer's cramp''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1950 – ''writer's block''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # One who writes, especially as an occupation; an [[author]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # One who has written a particular text.^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(Scotland)'' A [[lawyer]].^(OED 1989)^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[braillewriter]]

+ * [[checkwriter]]

+ * [[copywriter]]

+ * [[ghostwriter]]

+ * [[screenwriter]]

+ * [[scriptwriter]]

+ * [[songwriter]]

+ * [[speechwriter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[write]]

+ * [[writing]]

+ * [[scribe]]

+ * [[author]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}