scripture English · revision 39709

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1330, Adam and Eve (Auchinleck manuscript)|origins=la scrībō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ˈskɹɪptʃə/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ˈskɹɪpt͡ʃɚ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|scripture]], [[bor|la|scrīptūra]],^(OED 2026)^(Wiktionary)^(MWU 2024)^(AHD 2024) which in classical Latin meant the act of writing, written characters, a text or written record,^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) and in Late Latin the sacred writings of the Bible.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026) The Latin noun was formed with [[m|la|-ūra]] on [[m|la|scrīptus]], the past participle of [[m|la|scrībō|t=to write]],^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966)^(SOED 2002) which Etymonline and the American Heritage Dictionary take back to [[ine-pro|*skribh-|t=to cut]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) It is related to [[scribe]], [[script]], [[inscribe]] and [[scribble]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The sacred writings of the Bible: about 1330, in the Auchinleck manuscript's ''Adam and Eve''.^(OED 2026) Barnhart dates it before 1325, in ''Cursor Mundi'',^(Barnhart 1988) and Etymonline to the early 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the singular without an article, ''Scripture'' is recorded from about 1330, the plural ''the Scriptures'' from about 1382 and ''the Scripture'' from about 1384, now somewhat rare.^(OED 2026) A passage or quotation from the Bible was also a ''scripture'' from about 1384.^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) The word was extended to the sacred writings of Judaism (1510) and of other religions (1542).^(OED 2026) Weekley notes that Chaucer also used it for writing in general.^(Weekley 1921) From 1573 it was applied to any book or text regarded as authoritative,^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) and since 1833 ''Scripture'' was the name of a school subject, the study of the Bible.^(OED 2026) A verb ''scripture'', to write or record, is recorded from 1540.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1325 – the Bible, in ''Cursor Mundi''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1330 – ''Scripture'', the sacred writings of the Bible.^(OED 2026)

+ * a1382 – ''the Scriptures''.^(OED 2026)

+ * c. 1384 – a passage from the Bible.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1510 – the sacred writings of Judaism.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1542 – the sacred writings of another religion.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1573 – an authoritative book or text.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1833 – ''Scripture'', the study of the Bible at school.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''Scripture'', also ''the Scriptures'': the sacred writings of [[Christianity]], the [[Old Testament]] and the [[New Testament]]; the [[Bible]].^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # The sacred writings of another religion: ''Buddhist scripture''.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # A passage from the Bible or another sacred text.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+ # A book or body of writing regarded as [[authoritative]]: ''For the party, the manifesto was scripture.''^(OED 2026)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[script]]

+ * [[scribe]]

+ * [[inscribe]]

+ * [[scribble]]

+ * [[describe]]

+ * [[manuscript]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}