scriben.¹

Brit.

/skrʌɪb/, U.S.

/skraɪb/

Forms: Middle English–1500s scrybe, Middle English– scribe, 1500s skrybe, 1500s–1600s scrib.

Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Etymon: Latin scrība.

Etymology: < classical Latin scrība writer, amanuensis, secretary, in post-classical Latin also doctor of the Law (Vetus Latina) < scrībere to write (see scribe v.).Compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French, French scribe (late 13th cent.), Spanish escriba (first half of the 15th cent.), Portuguese escriba (13th cent. as scriba ), Italian scriba (a1306). Specific senses. In sense 1 and in biblical uses in sense 2 after Hellenistic Greek γραμματεύς (New Testament), probably itself after Hebrew sōpēr record keeper, clerk, scholar, in post-biblical Hebrew also professional interpreter of Scripture, doctor of the Law (active participle of sāpar to write, to count, number; compare sopheric adj.).

1. Jewish History. A member of the ancient Jewish class of professional copyists, editors, and interpreters of Scripture and the Law; spec. such a person chiefly serving as a jurist. Cf. Pharisee n. 1.In the New Testament the scribes are often coupled with the Pharisees as upholders of ancestral tradition.In quot. 1532 in extended use: a person who has the legalistic or hypocritical character commonly attributed to the scribes in the New Testament; an arrogant interpreter of Scripture (cf. Pharisee n. 2).

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > aspects of faith > law > Jewish law > interpreter, scribe > [noun]

bookerOE

writerOE

scribec1175

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7215 Teȝȝ..Wærenn scribe ȝehatenn. Forrþi þatt teȝȝre wikenn wass. To writenn laȝhebokess & ec to spellenn to þe follc Off laȝhess. & off lakess.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. vii. 29 Sothely he was techynge hem, as a man hauynge power, and nat as the scribis [L. scribae] of hem, and Pharisees.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. l. 305 And thus for Pompe and for beyete The Scribe and ek the Pharisee Of Moises upon the See In the chaiere on hyh ben set.

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xv. l. 383 And so may sarasenes be saued, scribes and iewes.

c1450 (?c1400) Three Kings Cologne (Cambr. Ee.4.32) (1886) 62 (MED) Doctours of þe lawe and þe scribys with her scripturis and prophecies were euermore present in þe cite.

1532 T. More Confut. Tyndales Answere iii. p. ccciii These heretyques maye properly be called not onely mercennaryes,..but also very scrybes and pharisees... For these be false scribes, that is to wytte wryters, not wrytyng any trew bokes of scrypture, but false gloses and contrary commentes vpon scrypture.

1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xxx. 545 Seeing the Messias was so precisely promised to be of that race; let vs not doubt but that the Scribes would willingly haue verified the contrarie, if they had could.

1611 Bible (King James) Neh. viii. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood vpon a pulpit of wood .

1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd i. 261 What was writ Concerning the Messiah, to our Scribes Known partly.

1705 G. Stanhope Paraphr. Epist. & Gospels I. 72 The bribed Soldiers, and suborning Scribes, who by false Reports endeavoured to stifle and destroy the Credit of that Resurrection.

a1771 G. Sharpe Serm. on Var. Subj. (1772) xiv. 234 The Scribes and Pharisees..had placed themselves in the seat of Moses.

1846 R. C. Trench Notes Miracles xxvii. 359 The old adversaries of our Lord, the Scribes, had taken advantage of his absence..to win a temporary triumph..over his disciples.

1863 A. P. Stanley Lect. Jewish Church I. xix. 424 The Religion..was fully revealed..not prophets were needed to declare it, but ‘scribes’ to expound and defend it.

1943 M. Samuel tr. S. Asch Apostle i. xi. 115 ‘Let my lord the High Priest listen, and I will tell him how’, interposed one of the scribes of the Sadduceans, one Herod, an interpreter of their laws.

1996 Imprimis Dec. 2/1 He called together the chief priests and scribes of the Jews.

2. Ancient History. A public official, often high-ranking, employed by a monarch, state, etc., to write or keep records; a record keeper; a clerk.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > office > holder of office > public officials > [noun] > clerk or secretary

scribea1382

secretary14..

secretara1525

clerk1526

county clerk1618

mutsuddy1683

society > communication > writing > writer > [noun] > professional writer > in ancient history

scribea1382

booker1575

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 370) (1850) 4 Kings xviii. 18 Forsothe Eliachym,..prouost of the hous, wente out to hem, and Sobna, scribe [a1425 L.V. scryueyn; L. scriba], and Joache, the sone of Azaf, chauncelere.

1447 O. Bokenham Lives of Saints (Arun.) (1938) l. 4926 (MED) She hym preyid wyth ful humble entent That to theophyl þe scrybe he yt wold bere.

1611 Bible (King James) 2 Kings xxv. 19 The principall Scribe of the hoste [margin. Or, scribe of the captaine of the hoste], which mustered the people of the land.

1671 F. Philipps Regale Necessarium Ep. Ded. sig. b^v The Romans so greatly valued their old Records, as they gave great Preferments and Honours to Flavius a Scribe or Notary.

1784 B. Blayney in tr. Jeremiah & Lament. 212 Jonathan's house became a prison, in consequence of his being made a royal scribe, or, as we should term him, secretary of state.

1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) IV. xxxii. 230 Tisamenus, who..had filled the office of a public scribe.

1849 A. H. Layard Nineveh & Remains II. ii. xiii. 76 The secretaries and scribes from the palace left their divans.

1911 A. S. Zerbe Antiq. Hebrew Writing & Lit. xii. 217 At the courts of David and Solomon important events were recorded by regularly appointed scribes and chroniclers.

1960 L. Abel Absalom ii. i. in H. Machiz Artist's Theatre 177 I write this down, I, Abishai, Scribe, where King Absalom may read it, for my office is not to curry favor but to record.

2004 Church Times 1 Oct. 19/3 Like the rulers of the Canaanite city states, early Israelite kings would have employed court scribes.

a. An assistant employed to write down dictated text; an amanuensis. Also (esp. in later use) more generally: a person who makes a written record of words spoken in a meeting, interview, etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > writing > writer > [noun] > one who writes or copies from dictation

scribea1425

amanuensisa1602

manuary1613

emanuensis1677

manuensis1720

a1425 Of Mynystris in Chirche (Bodl. 788) in T. Arnold Sel. Eng. Wks. J. Wyclif (1871) II. 400 Many pointis of Goddis privy witt hadden Poul and Joon, þat Petir wantide; and alle þes writeris of Goddis lawe hadden autorite of God to be scribis of Goddis word.

a1500 (a1450) tr. Secreta Secret. (Ashm. 396) (1977) 83 Chese thy scribes and writers þat have perfeccion in eloquence ornat and in recordacion sotill, as he is interpretator of thy wille, and is made privé to thy secretis.

a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. clix. f. lxxxvii^v One of the foresayde .ii. parsonis so condempned was scrybe to the Pope.

1601 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor v. i. sig. L3^v These two gentlemen..very strongly supposing me to be your worships scribe, entreated me to procure them a warrant.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. i. 132 That my master being scribe, To himselfe should write the Letter.

1701 C. Trotter Love at Loss i. i. 2 Shou'd this Cleon expose your Letters (for so I must call 'em, since I was but the Scribe of what you dictated) I'm utterly undone.

1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Calderon i. 64 This remarkable personage had risen from the situation of a confidential scribe to the Duke of Lerma.

1883 Athenæum 16 June 759/1 Reminiscences..dictated to a scribe and checked here and there by reference to documents in the dictator's possession.

1919 Encycl. Americana XVIII. 246/2 The sacred writers or their scribes most likely used ink and rolls of fragile papyrus for the autographa of the New Testament.

1991 M. Nicholls Investigating Gunpowder Plot iii. 34 Coke acted as scribe, taking down the suspects' incriminating words in his unmistakable hand.

2002 D. Goleman et al. Business: Ultimate Resource 318/2 One member of the group takes the role of scribe, recording each idea as it is generated.

b. figurative.

ΚΠ

a1500 (a1475) G. Ashby Dicta Philosophorum l. 961 in Poems (1899) 86 The first vertue is to kepe man-is tong, For it is scribe of his discrecion, For what it wol say, it writith at longe.

a1788 N. Cotton Var. Pieces Verse & Prose (1791) I. 231 Those faults which artful men conceal, Stand here engrav'd with pen of steel, By Conscience, that impartial scribe!

1860 F. W. Farrar Ess. Origin Lang. vii. 152 The senses themselves can tell us nothing except in so far as they are ‘scribes of the soul’.

1985 B. Liller & B. Mayer Cambr. Astron. Guide (1990) vii. 50/1 The reason why I keep photographing the night skies for so many hours is that the lens is a patient eye and film is an untiring and faithful scribe.

4. A public official employed by a court, council, municipality, etc., to write or keep records or accounts and perform other administrative duties. Now chiefly historical.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > writing > writer > [noun] > professional writer

writereOE

bookerOE

markerOE

scrivein?1208

scrivener1218

scrieverc1425

pen-clerk?c1430

scribe1435

scrivan1511

penman1552

scrivano1581

feather-driver1593

scriptora1600

Khoja1625

quill man1648

conicopoly1680

quill-driver1700

escrivain1744

sirkar1828

penworker1876

1435 Petition (P.R.O.: SC 8/130/6460A) The said commissarye..comaundet his seruantz to bere a chayre to the said place accustumet in the whech þe said commissarie sat in your name w^t the Scribe and the marshall of the said office.

c1484 (a1475) J. de Caritate tr. Secreta Secret. (Takamiya) (1977) 195 (MED) It is necessary to thy lordis to haue a wyse scribe [a1500 Ashmole scribe or clerk], qwyche be approuyed in chiualry, þat he take hed þat þei be noȝt corupt with no yiftis.

1533 in R. G. Marsden Sel. Pleas Court Admiralty (1894) I. 93 The noble John Aborow Englysheman patron of the shypp Saynt Mighell... And allso the noble John Andreas allso Englysshman scrybe of the saide shipp consenting [etc.].

1562 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1875) III. 153 The council continewis Jhonne Young, writer, thair scribe, and ordanis him to serue in the towyns effaris.

1643 R. Baker Chron. Kings of Eng. iii. 34 Amongst other Officers of the Court [of Henry VIII's divorce], Stephen Gardiner..sate as chiefe scribe. The Court being set, the Judges commanded silence, whilst their Commission was read; which done, the Scribes commanded the Cryer to call the King.

1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses I. 1 The publick Scribe or Registrary of the University of Oxon.

a1707 S. Patrick Auto-biogr. (1839) 13 And soon after made me the college scribe, which brought me in a great deal of money, many leases being to be renewed.

a1777 J. White Adventures King Richard Cœur-de-Lion (1791) III. xxxvii. 111 Forthwith the scribe of Parliament read the order of the day.

1816 Morning Chron. 24 June We call then upon the Ministers, who tell what suits them through their official scribes.

1874 Brooklyn Council: Let.-Missive, Statem. & Documents 117 On motion, the Scribe was requested to invite the Committee of the Plymouth Church to appear before the Council.

1901 W. B. Yeats Let. 2 Feb. (1994) III. 30 The balloting papers of country members should be sent to 36, Blythe Road, and not to the Scribe, who alone is responsible for their safe keeping.

1951 Jrnl. Polynesian Soc. 60 156 The accounts had been squarely kept by the island Scribe.

2016 B. S. Bauer et al. Voices from Vilcabamba v. 216 The testimonies..were copied on 17 March 1595 by Antonio de Olave, the public scribe of Vilcabamba.

5. A person who copies or transcribes manuscripts, esp. one employed as a copyist in ancient or medieval times. Now chiefly historical.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > writing > writer > [noun] > copyist

librarya1382

scribe1535

exemplifier1552

stationer1576

copier1597

transcriber1610

transcriptor1617

copy-clerk1623

exscribera1631

bibliographer1656

calligrapher1662

librarian1670

copist1682

copyist1699

calligraph1801

copiator1811

calligraphist1816

copying clerk1836

chirographer1848

1535 G. Joye Apol. Tindale sig. f. iiij^v I tolde his scrybe, euen him that wrote and correckted the testament for him.

1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. to Rdr. sig. A5 The Grecians..had many of their seruants, ready scribes, to copie them [sc. the books] out.

a1638 J. Mede Wks. (1672) iv. xcii. 878 I could..have lent you a Copy, it may be, as good as the Authors; I believe somewhat more distinct, by such directions as I gave my Scribe.

1746 P. Francis tr. Horace Art of Poetry 481 We ne'er those Scribes with Mercy treat, Who, though advis'd, the same Mistakes repeat.

1774 T. Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry I. iii. 140 The illuminations and paintings of this superb manuscript..were most probably begun as soon as the scribe had finished his part.

1850 J. Forshall & F. Madden Wyclif's Bible I. p. xlvii Each scribe has peculiarities of orthography.

1876 W. De G. Birch Hist., Art & Palaeogr. of MS styled Utrecht Psalter iv. 165 The particular kind of Rustic lettering adopted by the scribe of the Utrecht Psalter.

1946 E. Diehl Bookbinding I. iv. 53 There were undoubtedly trained scribes in England outside of the monastic scriptoria before the advent of printing.

1978 Anglo-Saxon Eng. 7 232 A scribe may have had difficulty in fitting a text into the quire structure of a booklet.

2002 F. Clark ‘Gregorian’ Dialogues iv. 71 The scribe who penned the Ambrosian MS was more aware of due literary forms.

a. A writer of poetry, literature, letters, etc.; an author; a person who is in the habit of writing. Also: the writer of a particular text. Sometimes humorous.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > literature > writer or author > [noun]

bookerOE

writerOE

makerc1350

authora1382

inditera1387

pena1398

poetc1400

bookmakera1425

ditera1425

compilera1500

compositor?1533

book writer1565

penner1568

authorizera1579

bookwright1583

scribe1584

epistler1592

penman1592

scriptora1600

composer1603

book-breeder1605

comprisor?1623

volumist1641

scrivenera1660

literatist1660

knight of the quill1692

belletrist1816

scriever1825

creative writer1854

penworker1876

society > communication > correspondence > letter-writing > [noun] > letter-writer

secretary1587

epistler1592

epistolizer1615

letter writer1615

epistoler1620

epistolographer1687

scribe1712

epistolist1743

epistolarian1807

epistolographist1818

epistolean1819

1584 King James VI & I Ess. Prentise Poesie sig. Eiij Your shameles rymes,..ô Scrybes prophane [Fr. Profanes escriuains].

1642 W. Prynne Moderate Reply to Declar. sig. A2^v It is to be wondred how the Scribe of this Declaration, should have an ignorance or malice bigge enough to conceive and bring it forth.

1652 Great & Bloudy Fight France 34 Webb being the better Scribe then Parson, imploys his pen, and tumbles out..expositions of the Parliaments Act of Adultery in Folio.

1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 475. ¶4 I have been engaged in this Subject by the following Letter, which comes to me from some notable young Female Scribe.

1778 F. Burney Jrnl. 20 July in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1994) III. 58 As I am often writing,..he commonly calls me the scribe.

1886 M. F. Tupper My Life as Author iv. 60 Some frivolous larks in the Waterford days, wherewith I need not say the present scribe had nothing to do.

1892 G. Du Maurier Peter Ibbetson I. 7 I am but a poor scribe, ill versed in the craft of wielding words and phrases.

1923 Kingsport (Tennessee) Times 14 Aug. 3/2 In a stinging novel an anonymous scribe has laid unreverend hands on a great institution of learning.

1963 C. Bukowski It catches my Heart in Hands 52 Some gal up North.., she's trying to tell me that H.D. was our greatest scribe.

2010 Victoria (Texas) Advocate (Nexis) 6 Dec. Southern author William Faulkner always advised aspiring scribes to write about what they know.

b. A writer of political pamphlets; a political journalist who promotes the interests of a particular party; a party hack. Chiefly depreciative. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > journalism > journalist > [noun] > political journalist

scribe1766

publicist1833

lobby correspondent1886

1766 Gazetteer & New Daily Advertiser 29 Mar. These Scribes were hired to poison the minds of the people, and to cause them to set their faces against the men of America.

1826 in W. Cobbett Rural Rides in Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 23 Sept. 788 The impudent scribes would make us believe, that England was formerly nothing at all till they [sc. the Scotch] came to enlighten it.

1849 ‘G. Goodfellow’ Bk. Liberals iii. iii. 228 The liberal scribe..tells his half-starved patrons that they will have a belly-full, and no end of other good things, if they will continue to support his paper.

1885 Liverpool Daily Post 1 June 5/3 The youngest scribe of a Tory organ could manage national affairs much better.

1921 C. T. Atkinson Marlborough & Rise Brit. Army 477 The consciousness of success emboldened Tory scribes to assail and misrepresent every action of his public and private life.

1971 R. Grunberger 12-year Reich xxvi. 397 A characteristic effusion by a Party scribe stated ‘..Just as the poet walks alongside the king, the journalist must march with the leader.’

c. U.S. A journalist, a reporter. Frequently with preceding modifying word or phrase, esp. indicating the area of journalism, or the newspaper for which the journalist works. Cf. news scribe n. at news n. Compounds 1a, newspaper scribe n. at newspaper n. Compounds 2.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > journalism > journalist > [noun] > reporter

newshound1699

writer1717

reporter1776

scribe1822

penciller1886

tripe-hound1923

newshawk1928

pencil1976

1822 Daily National Intelligencer (Washington) 20 July By calling public attention to the caballing at and about the Navy Yard near Boston, we have drawn off a part of the attention of the Boston scribes to ourselves.

1895 Herapath's Railway Jrnl. 29 Mar. 320/1 We have the greatest respect for Fleet-street scribes in their proper spheres, but as M.P. for a great mercantile community the London journalist would be a veritable landlubber.

1929 D. Runyon in Cosmopolitan July 58/1 Dave grabs the scribe..and is taking him out for an airing!.. Taking a newspaper guy..out for an airing is apt to cause talk.

1952 Lowell (Mass.) Sunday Sun 3 Feb. 28/1 There's one alleged basketball official who says he'll not be sorry to see a certain sports scribe get hit by a bus.

2007 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) (Nexis) 2 Nov. (Features section) 38 ‘I opened the newspaper at breakfast and came across my name in the gossip pages,’ Lib told a Daily Telegraph scribe.

a. A person who writes by hand; a penman. Chiefly with preceding modifying word specifying the degree of skill, as good, great, poor, etc. In later use often archaic or humorous. In early use sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 6a.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > writing > writer > writer according to handwriting style > [noun] > skilled or beautiful

penman1588

scribe1594

penmastera1661

penwoman1747

calligrapher1752

calligraph1801

calligraphist1816

1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus ii. iv. 4 Write downe thy minde bewray thy meaning so, And if thy stumpes will let thee play the scribe .

1658 G. Starkey Pyrotechny iii. 5 Not every one that can furnish himself with a good pen, a neat inkhorn, and fine paper may be adjudged a good Scribe.

1706 W. Penn in Mem. Hist. Soc. Pennsylvania (1872) X. 111 I must recommend him to your love and care, being a scribe and an accomptant.

1849 G. P. R. James Woodman I. ii. 15 I could make out plain court hand a great deal better when written by a good scribe.

1853 C. Dickens Bleak House liii. 506 Mr. Bucket..is no great scribe; rather handling his pen like the pocket-staff he carries about with him.

1901 Signs of Times 15 July 434/2 I felt as though he might not be able to read my writing, for I am such a poor scribe.

1983 Attenzione Sept. 22/4 He inspects the handwriting on every test paper and report. Sloppy scribes are called down to his office and reminded of the importance of dotting their i's and crossing their t's.

2016 Panther (Chapman Univ.) (Nexis) 14 Feb. 1 The style of penmanship, characterized by its elegance and continuity, is a favorite of discerning scribes, who use it everywhere.

†b. A teacher of handwriting. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > writing > study or science of written symbols > [noun] > teacher of calligraphy

writing master1582

writing school master1590

scrivener1608

scribe1696

1696 in Laws of Maryland (1765) 8 Will. III. c. 17 One Master, one Usher, and one Writing-Master or Scribe, to a School.

†8. A cuttlefish. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > class Cephalopoda > [noun] > order Dibranchiata > section Decapoda > family Sepiadae > member of

cuttlec1000

seggec1300

polypus?1527

scuttle1530

sepia1569

cuttlefish1591

inkhorn fish1598

ozaena1601

sea-cat1601

sea-cut1601

sound1611

scribe1655

sea-qualm1804

sepiacean1842

sepioid1857

sea-sleeve1867

1655 T. Moffett & C. Bennet Healths Improvem. xviii. 151 Cuttles (called also..scribes for their incky humour).

Compounds

scribe's palsy n. (also †scribe palsy) now historical and rare a disorder, spec. a form of dystonia, which affects muscles of the hand and results in difficulty in writing; (also) fatigue of the hand after a long period of writing; cf. writer's cramp n., writer's palsy n. at writer n. Compounds 2.

ΚΠ

1861 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 4 May 476/1 Scribe-palsy, common in Germany and sometimes seen in England, is another form; it is different from writer's cramp.

1887 F. A. Ober Knockabout Club in Woods 19 The Club attributes it sometimes to scribe's palsy.

2006 K. H. E. Kroemer ‘Extra-Ordinary’ Ergonomics 133 The factors that cause, aggravate or precipitate ODs [sc. occupational diseases] can be part of occupational or leisure activities, as indicated by such names as writer's cramp or scribe's palsy [etc.].

scribe work n. the work of a scribe (in various senses).

ΚΠ

1829 W. Irving in Life & Lett. (1864) II. 415 There is likely to be but moderate scribe work in the legation.

1908 Leather Workers' Jrnl. July 626/2 No one knows who will do the scribe work for the Journal for the next six months.

1930 C. A. F. Rhys Davids Milinda-questions 7 Not merely to correct palpable blunders in scribe-work, but to insert, to cut out, to reword.

2009 Telegram & Gaz. (Worcester, Mass.) 29 Oct. 14 Lambert co-writes three songs with Shelton, including ‘Love Song’ (which also has the scribe work of Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood).

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

scriben.²

Brit.

/skrʌɪb/, U.S.

/skraɪb/

Forms: 1700s– scribe; Scottish pre-1700 1700s scrib, 2000s– skrib.

Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: scribe v.

Etymology: < scribe v. With sense 2 compare scrieve n. 3, 4.

1. Chiefly Scottish. A piece or scrap of writing; a hasty scribble; a written communication; a letter. Chiefly in a scribe of a pen and variants (cf. scrape of a pen at scrape n.¹ 2b). Chiefly in negative contexts.

ΚΠ

1574 in Cal. State Papers Scotl. (1907) V. 16 To me I never resavit ane scrib of pen sen my last being in Scheifeild.

1708 Ravished Maid in Wilderness 38 There was not any of them had a scrib of a Pen against the Union till it was concluded.

1805 R. Anderson Ballads in Cumberland Dial. 69 She..niver yence sent the scribe of a pen.

1864 W. D. Latto Tammas Bodkin xxv. 257 Feint a scribe o' a pen did I receive frae her in reply.

1902 S. R. Crockett Banner of Blue viii. 88 Jeems Carlyle never wrote a scribe o' print, or hand-write either.

1928 A. E. Pease Dict. Dial. N. Riding Yorks. 109/2 Can ye mak oot yon scribe?

1979 J. J. Graham Shetland Dict. 73/2 Wir no hed a scribe fae Willy sin he left.

1996 C. I. Macafee Conc. Ulster Dict. 291/2 Scribe, a mark, a stroke, especially a scribe of the pen.

2017 I. W. D. Forde in Lallans 91 98 Tho A hae awned this LP fur monie eirs..A hedna tuik tent o this bit skrib.

a. Joinery. A line scored on a piece of wood in order to indicate where it is to be cut.

ΚΠ

1798 T. Jefferson Let. 23 Mar. in Papers (2003) XXX. 204 Saw across the hollow of the block, guiding the saw both before & behind along the same scribe.

1880 Carpentry & Building Aug. 158/2 Having..marked it on the top end of the stiles, measuring from the scribe at the bottom, draw a straight line across the top of the door.

1908 Carpentry & Building Mar. 96/2 With the parting tool cut the piece nearly off, working the tool to the scribes outside.

2012 J. Miller Found. Better Woodworking vii. 153 (caption) Run a dull pencil over a scribed line to highlight both sides of the scribe.

b. A tool for scribing a line or mark; spec. (a) a tool with a scooped blade, or with a point and blade, used to carve an identifying mark on a tree, post, etc.; (b) (esp. in Joinery) a hand tool with a sharp point used for scoring wood or other materials, usually in order to indicate the intended cutting line (cf. scribe awl n. at Compounds).timber scribe, tree scribe: see the first element.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for marking out work > [noun] > sharp

tracer1756

scriber1781

scribe1812

tracing-point1815

scrieve1828

scribe awl1848

striking knife1901

1812 P. Nicholson Mech. Exercises 212 The Scribe is a spike or large nail ground to a sharp point, to mark the bricks on the face and back by the tapering edges of the mould, in order to cut them.

1844 Age & Argus 20 Apr. 6/2 There was a common oak stave with the inscription ‘Columbus Delano, 1791,’ cut apparently with an ordinary scribe for marking wood.

1856 J. H. Walsh Man. Domest. Econ. ii. iii. 37/2 Certain lines are marked..by means of a scribe, and the wood within these lines on the styles is cut away.

1921 Machinery Sept. 59/1 A marker or scribe for use in laying out lines a predetermined distance from the edge of angle-plates, die-blanks, etc.

1972 Forestry & Home Grown Timber Feb. 37/1 The trees were measured most carefully..and each tree numbered with a scribe.

1988 M. Tucker Techniques in Sedimentology (BNC) 94 Glass slides are first marked with the specimen number of the sample..using a diamond scribe.

2000 Model Railroader Feb. 82/1 Besides the usual tools—small drills, files, a scribe—you will need a wheel puller and a quarterer.

Compounds

scribe awl n. esp. Joinery a hand tool used for scoring wood or other materials, usually in order to indicate the intended cutting line, having a pointed metal shank and a (typically round or cylindrical) handle; cf. sense 2b(b).

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for marking out work > [noun] > sharp

tracer1756

scriber1781

scribe1812

tracing-point1815

scrieve1828

scribe awl1848

striking knife1901

1848 Miami County (Indiana) Sentinel 6 July Bench screws; spirit levels..; scribe and brad awls.

1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Scribe-awl, an awl used for making lines to be followed in sawing or cutting out work.

2007 P. Swift et al. Constr. Plumbing ii. 85 You will find that you can work with much greater accuracy if you use a scribe-awl instead of chalk or a pencil.

scribe mark n. (a) a mark made on a tree, as a means of identification when selling or harvesting timber, or to indicate a boundary; (b) a mark scored on wood, stone, or other material indicating the line along which it is to be cut.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > indication > marking > marking out > [noun] > scribing > scribe mark

scribe mark1802

1802 Derby Mercury 8 Apr. The Oak Trees..under that size, and the Ash Trees, are numbered, in progressive order, with Scribe marks.

1883 J. Nasmyth Autobiogr. xiv. 256 The delicate scribe marks by which the mason some 1900 years ago lined out his work on the blocks of stone he was about to chip.

1957 Walla Walla (Washington) Union-Bull. 20 Dec. 8/7 When using your power saw,..cutting through the scribe mark that has been drawn to exact measure will leave you with a piece shorter than your requirement.

2017 D. A. Wilson Boundary Retracement viii. 248 Many surveyors, especially when doing woodland surveys, carried a special tool for making scribe marks.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

scribev.

Brit.

/skrʌɪb/, U.S.

/skraɪb/

Forms: late Middle English scrybe, 1500s– scribe.

Origin: Perhaps of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Partly formed within English, by conversion. Perhaps partly formed within English, by clipping or shortening. Etymons: Latin scrībere ; scribe n.¹; describe v.

Etymology: Partly (i) < classical Latin scrībere to write (see note), partly (ii) < scribe n.¹, and perhaps also (iii) partly (in senses of branch II.) shortened < describe v. Compare earlier scrieve v.¹ and later escribe v.Classical Latin scrībere is < the same Italic base as Oscan scriftas (feminine plural past participle) written, Umbrian screhto (neuter singular past participle) written; perhaps < the same Indo-European base as Byzantine Greek σκάριϕος stylus, outline, sketch (see scarify v.¹), and perhaps also Early Irish scrípaid scratches, Lithuanian skriebti to draw, to cut, and Latvian skrīpat to scratch, scribble, write down. The Latin verb was borrowed into many Germanic languages at an early date (see discussion at shrive v.), and also into Early Irish as scríbaid writes.

I. To set down in writing.

1. transitive. To write (a letter, story, words, etc.); to transcribe. Frequently archaic in later use.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > writing > [verb (transitive)] > set down in writing

adighteOE

to set on writea900

dightc1000

writeOE

brevea1225

layc1330

indite1340

take1418

annote1449

printa1450

scribe1465

redact?a1475

reduce1485

letter1504

recite1523

to commit to writing (also paper)1529

pen1530

reduce?1533

token up1535

scripture1540

titulea1550

to set down1562

quote1573

to put down1574

paper1594

to write down1594

apprehend1611

fix1630

exarate1656

depose1668

put1910

1465 in W. T. Barbour Hist. Contract in Early Eng. Equity (1914) 219 He shulde scrybe the hole some of the receyt of the seid marchaundise upon the bak of the seid obligacion.

1584 R. Wilson Three Ladies of London sig. C.ij^v Do thou get some more letters, and ile get them scribed of mistars Loue and Conscience.

1859 Wesleyan-Methodist Mag. Jan. 90/2 Ever ready with her pen, while her child was infantile, she would scribe sweet little notes for her.

1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders xliii. 364 Patrick Walker..(he that scribes the stories of the sufferers and has had them printed).

1922 Sat. Evening Post 10 June 19/2 Pages of this fascinating language of the angels old Mudgett had scribed in his secret book.

1992 Option July 137/1 I perused some words scribed by English egghead Simon Reynolds.

2012 Canberra Times (Nexis) 21 Jan. a38 Matthew is a recognised authority on our high country, having scribed several books on the history of the mountains.

2. intransitive. To write; to compose a text or texts; (also) to be employed as scribe or secretary.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > writing > [verb (intransitive)] > write as occupation

writec1275

scribe1651

scriven1680

clerk1822

1651 A. Weamys Contin. Sydney's Arcadia 49 Being tired with scribing so long upon one subject.

1782 F. Burney Cecilia V. x. vi. 295 Contenting himself with doing nothing but scribble and scribe one day.

1787 J. Clarke Surv. Lakes Cumberland Introd. p.xxvi To scribe, is still to write.

1801 R. Southey Let. 11 Nov. in J. W. Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) I. 378 As if the author of ‘Joan of Arc’ and of ‘Thalaba’ were made a great man by scribing for the Irish Chancellor of the Exchequer.

1838 Fraser's Mag. 17 322 A writer..scribing about Jeffery as if it was a living thing.

1985 B. Zephaniah Dread Affair 54 Here I scribe just doing what comes to me naturally Everything I write is my account of history.

2003 A. Washtell in J. Graham & A. Kelly Writing under Control (ed. 2) iii. 22 As she scribes in front of the whole class, the teacher models how to write a text.

II. To mark with a line or groove and related senses.

a. transitive. Originally in Joinery: to mark (a piece of wood which is to be cut and fitted to another) with the intended outline, by drawing one point of a pair of compasses along the edge of the original piece in such a way that the other point, moving in parallel, transfers the outline onto the piece to be fitted. Later also more generally: to mark or score (any material) with a sharp instrument, laser, etc., in order to indicate the intended cutting line; (also) to mark or score (such a line or outline).In quot. 1878 intransitive with around.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > perform general or industrial manufacturing processes [verb (transitive)] > other processes

cure1633

scribe1678

refinish1820

retort1850

prick1872

supple1876

whizz1882

steam-cure1910

linish1971

society > communication > indication > marking > marking out > mark out [verb (transitive)] > scribe

scribe1678

scrieve1830

1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. vi. Explan. Terms 112 To make these two peeces of Stuff joyn close together all the way, they Scribe it, (as they phrase it,) thus.

1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 101/2 Scribe, is the drawing of a line or stroak with the Compasses upon a piece of stuff that is straight, thereby to cut it so as it may join to an Irregular piece, whether bowed or cornered.

1828 Mechanics' Mag. 26 July 441/1 If the compasses are held parallel to the line..in which the stuff is to be moved up after being scribed and cut, Mr. Curtis will find it quite correct.

1868 Amer. Artisan 25 Mar. 165/1 The usual method is to scribe the outline of the cut, and then employ a cold-chisel..to form the necessary groove.

1878 A. M. Mayer Sound xvii. 154 With the separated points of a pair of spring dividers scribe around the edge of the templet.

1967 Electronics 6 Mar. 218 (advt.) Their 4-sided diamond scriber often leaves rough, chipped lines when it scribes crystalline wafers for dicing.

1975 J. B. Harley Ordnance Survey Maps i. 11 A second sheet of plastic material..is placed in exact registration with the first, and is then used for plotting and scribing the contours.

2008 R. Peters Pop. Mech. Trim Carpentry 56/1 To scribe a piece of trim with a compass, place the trim where it will be installed [etc.].

b. transitive. To cut or shape the edge of (a piece of wood, metal, etc.) so that it will form a close fit with the shaped edge of another piece or with an uneven or irregular surface. Frequently with to.In quot. 1837 with into: to fit (something) into a part which is cut or shaped for the purpose.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > perform general or industrial manufacturing processes [verb (transitive)] > types of shaping process

worka1325

strike1485

sink1526

print1530

cut1600

to work out1600

strain1674

scribe1679

stamp1798

slab1868

squirt1881

tablet1891

extrude1913

fabricate1926

1679 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. viii. 140 The Joysts are always scribed to project over..the roundness or wayniness of the upper side of the Girder.

1795 Carpenters' Rules of Work 18 Mop-boards scribed to stairs, 9d. per foot.

1812 P. Nicholson Mech. Exercises 177 Thus the skirting boards of a room should be scribed to the floor.

1837 N. Whittock et al. Compl. Bk. Trades 288 Parts of the lock and springs are scribed in to the butt of the gun-stock.

1908 National Builder Jan. 31/1 The writer has worked beside good mechanics that seemed to have a great deal of trouble to get the base scribed to the floor.

1986 A. Limon in A. Limon et al. Home Owner Man. (ed. 2) i. iv. 77 A batten is then scribed to fit under the tiles to make a neat finish.

2004 Tool & Machinery Catal. 2005 (Axminster Power Tool Centre Ltd.) ix. 30/1 The scribing or in-cannel gouge is used to make straight cuts which are curved in section, as when scribing the shoulder of a tenon to meet a mortice in a round leg.

a. transitive. To cut (a line or groove) in a surface using a tool with a sharp point.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > indication > marking > mark [verb (transitive)] > by cutting

score1590

scribe1800

nick1827

1800 Compl. Young Man's Compan. 445 When if you have a mind to ornament it by any other lines.., lay on your ruler, and with your ivory point scribe them.

1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 59 A drawing-board..on which the lines are first chalked and then carved, or scribed.

1908 Amer. Miller Oct. 780/2 Scribe three lines down the length of the board.

1928 Motor Boating Apr. 204/2 Scribe a groove around the hull to permanently mark the water line before starting to bur or scrape off the paint.

2006 M. Long Archit. Acoustics xxi. 741 The original Edison system employed a stylus attached to a diaphragm that scribed a groove into aluminum foil wrapped around a rotating cylinder.

b. transitive. To mark or trace the shape of (a circle, arc, etc.); to delineate. Now frequently in extended use. Cf. describe v. 5a.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > representation > a plastic or graphic representation > graphic representation > represent graphically [verb (transitive)] > line or figure

drawc1300

trace1390

scribe1887

1887 Eng. Mechanic & World of Sci. 29 July 521/1 Let C O be desired cut-off, join this to centre, and scribe an arc L.P. cutting small circle where the line intersects at P.

1890 J. W. C. Haldane Civil & Mech. Engin. (ed. 2) v. 68 ‘Oh,’ said the person addressed, ‘mak' it that size,’ scribing a circle round him on the floor with the point of his boot.

1905 Draftsman 4 309/2 Scribe a circle H of any radius, and the point P at any distance from H.

1990 E. Kraft Reservations Recommended iv. 151 She..watches her feet scribing arcs in the soapy, greasy water.

2008 P. Polizatto Hunga Dunga (2009) 261 From here, we could have watched the sun rise, scribe a semi-circle in the sky, and set. All three, without ever moving.

c. transitive. To draw (an image) by making grooves on or engraving a surface using a sharp or pointed tool.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > sculpture or carving > incising or intaglio > incise (marks or figures) [verb (transitive)]

writeeOE

gravec1275

raspc1400

insculp?a1475

insculpt1487

scrape1532

sculp?1533

engrave1542

enchase1579

incarve1596

engraven1605

trencha1616

scratch1644

style1864

lithograph1872

scribe1896

1896 R. Kipling Seven Seas 129 He..Pictured the sabre-tooth tiger..—Pictured the mountainous mammoth..—Out of the love that he bore them, scribing them clearly on bone.

1917 Dublin Rev. Jan. 101 Another picture, however, is quite intelligible. It is scribed on a horn, and was found at Laugerie Basse, an important prehistoric station.

2006 C. Frazier Thirteen Moons iv. i. 279 He..swept his palms in broad strokes to smooth the dirt, and then he sharpened a stick with his knife and sat a long session scribing interlocking rivers and creeks and ridges.

5. transitive. To mark (timber, a cask, etc.) with a number or symbol, esp. in order to indicate the weight, volume, etc., or as a means of identification. Also: to inscribe (an identifying mark, indication of volume, etc.) on timber or other goods. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > indication > marking > marking to identify > be distinctive mark on [verb (transitive)] > put identifying mark on > commercial goods

scribe1806

tally1837

trademark1859

badge1980

1806 Derby Mercury 6 Feb. To be sold by auction... Lot 1. Twenty-one ash and elm trees, Numbered and Scribed, on Wm. Beresford's Farm at Stydd.

1843 Freeman's Jrnl. (Dublin) 27 Oct. 1/6 All pieces of wood..are to be treated in the same manner..by scribing the number of cubical contents upon each piece.

1883 W. C. Russell Sailors' Lang. Scribe, to mark packages in bond with the number and weight.

1913 Packages Apr. 71/1 Inspectors when regauging shall erase all old gauges before scribing the new gauge on such barrels.

1932 Veneers Aug. 17/2 In purchasing..tropical woods, that are rafted, the usual method is to scribe a number on the upper part of the log that is out of water.

1971 B. Gilding Journeymen Coopers of E. London 33 Finally, unloaded, gauged and scribed, the casks are either delivered to the merchant or are ‘housed’ in the vaults.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

n.¹c1175

n.²1574

v.1465

单词	scribe
释义	scriben.¹ Brit. /skrʌɪb/, U.S. /skraɪb/ Forms: Middle English–1500s scrybe, Middle English– scribe, 1500s skrybe, 1500s–1600s scrib. Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Etymon: Latin scrība. Etymology: < classical Latin scrība writer, amanuensis, secretary, in post-classical Latin also doctor of the Law (Vetus Latina) < scrībere to write (see scribe v.).Compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French, French scribe (late 13th cent.), Spanish escriba (first half of the 15th cent.), Portuguese escriba (13th cent. as scriba ), Italian scriba (a1306). Specific senses. In sense 1 and in biblical uses in sense 2 after Hellenistic Greek γραμματεύς (New Testament), probably itself after Hebrew sōpēr record keeper, clerk, scholar, in post-biblical Hebrew also professional interpreter of Scripture, doctor of the Law (active participle of sāpar to write, to count, number; compare sopheric adj.). 1. Jewish History. A member of the ancient Jewish class of professional copyists, editors, and interpreters of Scripture and the Law; spec. such a person chiefly serving as a jurist. Cf. Pharisee n. 1.In the New Testament the scribes are often coupled with the Pharisees as upholders of ancestral tradition.In quot. 1532 in extended use: a person who has the legalistic or hypocritical character commonly attributed to the scribes in the New Testament; an arrogant interpreter of Scripture (cf. Pharisee n. 2). ΘΚΠ society > faith > aspects of faith > law > Jewish law > interpreter, scribe > [noun] bookerOE writerOE scribec1175 c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7215 Teȝȝ..Wærenn scribe ȝehatenn. Forrþi þatt teȝȝre wikenn wass. To writenn laȝhebokess & ec to spellenn to þe follc Off laȝhess. & off lakess. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. vii. 29 Sothely he was techynge hem, as a man hauynge power, and nat as the scribis [L. scribae] of hem, and Pharisees. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. l. 305 And thus for Pompe and for beyete The Scribe and ek the Pharisee Of Moises upon the See In the chaiere on hyh ben set. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xv. l. 383 And so may sarasenes be saued, scribes and iewes. c1450 (?c1400) Three Kings Cologne (Cambr. Ee.4.32) (1886) 62 (MED) Doctours of þe lawe and þe scribys with her scripturis and prophecies were euermore present in þe cite. 1532 T. More Confut. Tyndales Answere iii. p. ccciii These heretyques maye properly be called not onely mercennaryes,..but also very scrybes and pharisees... For these be false scribes, that is to wytte wryters, not wrytyng any trew bokes of scrypture, but false gloses and contrary commentes vpon scrypture. 1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xxx. 545 Seeing the Messias was so precisely promised to be of that race; let vs not doubt but that the Scribes would willingly haue verified the contrarie, if they had could. 1611 Bible (King James) Neh. viii. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood vpon a pulpit of wood . 1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd i. 261 What was writ Concerning the Messiah, to our Scribes Known partly. View more context for this quotation 1705 G. Stanhope Paraphr. Epist. & Gospels I. 72 The bribed Soldiers, and suborning Scribes, who by false Reports endeavoured to stifle and destroy the Credit of that Resurrection. a1771 G. Sharpe Serm. on Var. Subj. (1772) xiv. 234 The Scribes and Pharisees..had placed themselves in the seat of Moses. 1846 R. C. Trench Notes Miracles xxvii. 359 The old adversaries of our Lord, the Scribes, had taken advantage of his absence..to win a temporary triumph..over his disciples. 1863 A. P. Stanley Lect. Jewish Church I. xix. 424 The Religion..was fully revealed..not prophets were needed to declare it, but ‘scribes’ to expound and defend it. 1943 M. Samuel tr. S. Asch Apostle i. xi. 115 ‘Let my lord the High Priest listen, and I will tell him how’, interposed one of the scribes of the Sadduceans, one Herod, an interpreter of their laws. 1996 Imprimis Dec. 2/1 He called together the chief priests and scribes of the Jews. 2. Ancient History. A public official, often high-ranking, employed by a monarch, state, etc., to write or keep records; a record keeper; a clerk. ΘΚΠ society > authority > office > holder of office > public officials > [noun] > clerk or secretary scribea1382 secretary14.. secretara1525 clerk1526 county clerk1618 mutsuddy1683 society > communication > writing > writer > [noun] > professional writer > in ancient history scribea1382 booker1575 a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 370) (1850) 4 Kings xviii. 18 Forsothe Eliachym,..prouost of the hous, wente out to hem, and Sobna, scribe [a1425 L.V. scryueyn; L. scriba], and Joache, the sone of Azaf, chauncelere. 1447 O. Bokenham Lives of Saints (Arun.) (1938) l. 4926 (MED) She hym preyid wyth ful humble entent That to theophyl þe scrybe he yt wold bere. 1611 Bible (King James) 2 Kings xxv. 19 The principall Scribe of the hoste [margin. Or, scribe of the captaine of the hoste], which mustered the people of the land. View more context for this quotation 1671 F. Philipps Regale Necessarium Ep. Ded. sig. b^v The Romans so greatly valued their old Records, as they gave great Preferments and Honours to Flavius a Scribe or Notary. 1784 B. Blayney in tr. Jeremiah & Lament. 212 Jonathan's house became a prison, in consequence of his being made a royal scribe, or, as we should term him, secretary of state. 1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) IV. xxxii. 230 Tisamenus, who..had filled the office of a public scribe. 1849 A. H. Layard Nineveh & Remains II. ii. xiii. 76 The secretaries and scribes from the palace left their divans. 1911 A. S. Zerbe Antiq. Hebrew Writing & Lit. xii. 217 At the courts of David and Solomon important events were recorded by regularly appointed scribes and chroniclers. 1960 L. Abel Absalom ii. i. in H. Machiz Artist's Theatre 177 I write this down, I, Abishai, Scribe, where King Absalom may read it, for my office is not to curry favor but to record. 2004 Church Times 1 Oct. 19/3 Like the rulers of the Canaanite city states, early Israelite kings would have employed court scribes. 3. a. An assistant employed to write down dictated text; an amanuensis. Also (esp. in later use) more generally: a person who makes a written record of words spoken in a meeting, interview, etc. ΘΚΠ society > communication > writing > writer > [noun] > one who writes or copies from dictation scribea1425 amanuensisa1602 manuary1613 emanuensis1677 manuensis1720 a1425 Of Mynystris in Chirche (Bodl. 788) in T. Arnold Sel. Eng. Wks. J. Wyclif (1871) II. 400 Many pointis of Goddis privy witt hadden Poul and Joon, þat Petir wantide; and alle þes writeris of Goddis lawe hadden autorite of God to be scribis of Goddis word. a1500 (a1450) tr. Secreta Secret. (Ashm. 396) (1977) 83 Chese thy scribes and writers þat have perfeccion in eloquence ornat and in recordacion sotill, as he is interpretator of thy wille, and is made privé to thy secretis. a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. clix. f. lxxxvii^v One of the foresayde .ii. parsonis so condempned was scrybe to the Pope. 1601 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor v. i. sig. L3^v These two gentlemen..very strongly supposing me to be your worships scribe, entreated me to procure them a warrant. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. i. 132 That my master being scribe, To himselfe should write the Letter. View more context for this quotation 1701 C. Trotter Love at Loss i. i. 2 Shou'd this Cleon expose your Letters (for so I must call 'em, since I was but the Scribe of what you dictated) I'm utterly undone. 1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Calderon i. 64 This remarkable personage had risen from the situation of a confidential scribe to the Duke of Lerma. 1883 Athenæum 16 June 759/1 Reminiscences..dictated to a scribe and checked here and there by reference to documents in the dictator's possession. 1919 Encycl. Americana XVIII. 246/2 The sacred writers or their scribes most likely used ink and rolls of fragile papyrus for the autographa of the New Testament. 1991 M. Nicholls Investigating Gunpowder Plot iii. 34 Coke acted as scribe, taking down the suspects' incriminating words in his unmistakable hand. 2002 D. Goleman et al. Business: Ultimate Resource 318/2 One member of the group takes the role of scribe, recording each idea as it is generated. b. figurative. ΚΠ a1500 (a1475) G. Ashby Dicta Philosophorum l. 961 in Poems (1899) 86 The first vertue is to kepe man-is tong, For it is scribe of his discrecion, For what it wol say, it writith at longe. a1788 N. Cotton Var. Pieces Verse & Prose (1791) I. 231 Those faults which artful men conceal, Stand here engrav'd with pen of steel, By Conscience, that impartial scribe! 1860 F. W. Farrar Ess. Origin Lang. vii. 152 The senses themselves can tell us nothing except in so far as they are ‘scribes of the soul’. 1985 B. Liller & B. Mayer Cambr. Astron. Guide (1990) vii. 50/1 The reason why I keep photographing the night skies for so many hours is that the lens is a patient eye and film is an untiring and faithful scribe. 4. A public official employed by a court, council, municipality, etc., to write or keep records or accounts and perform other administrative duties. Now chiefly historical. ΘΚΠ society > communication > writing > writer > [noun] > professional writer writereOE bookerOE markerOE scrivein?1208 scrivener1218 scrieverc1425 pen-clerk?c1430 scribe1435 scrivan1511 penman1552 scrivano1581 feather-driver1593 scriptora1600 Khoja1625 quill man1648 conicopoly1680 quill-driver1700 escrivain1744 sirkar1828 penworker1876 1435 Petition (P.R.O.: SC 8/130/6460A) The said commissarye..comaundet his seruantz to bere a chayre to the said place accustumet in the whech þe said commissarie sat in your name w^t the Scribe and the marshall of the said office. c1484 (a1475) J. de Caritate tr. Secreta Secret. (Takamiya) (1977) 195 (MED) It is necessary to thy lordis to haue a wyse scribe [a1500 Ashmole scribe or clerk], qwyche be approuyed in chiualry, þat he take hed þat þei be noȝt corupt with no yiftis. 1533 in R. G. Marsden Sel. Pleas Court Admiralty (1894) I. 93 The noble John Aborow Englysheman patron of the shypp Saynt Mighell... And allso the noble John Andreas allso Englysshman scrybe of the saide shipp consenting [etc.]. 1562 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1875) III. 153 The council continewis Jhonne Young, writer, thair scribe, and ordanis him to serue in the towyns effaris. 1643 R. Baker Chron. Kings of Eng. iii. 34 Amongst other Officers of the Court [of Henry VIII's divorce], Stephen Gardiner..sate as chiefe scribe. The Court being set, the Judges commanded silence, whilst their Commission was read; which done, the Scribes commanded the Cryer to call the King. 1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses I. 1 The publick Scribe or Registrary of the University of Oxon. a1707 S. Patrick Auto-biogr. (1839) 13 And soon after made me the college scribe, which brought me in a great deal of money, many leases being to be renewed. a1777 J. White Adventures King Richard Cœur-de-Lion (1791) III. xxxvii. 111 Forthwith the scribe of Parliament read the order of the day. 1816 Morning Chron. 24 June We call then upon the Ministers, who tell what suits them through their official scribes. 1874 Brooklyn Council: Let.-Missive, Statem. & Documents 117 On motion, the Scribe was requested to invite the Committee of the Plymouth Church to appear before the Council. 1901 W. B. Yeats Let. 2 Feb. (1994) III. 30 The balloting papers of country members should be sent to 36, Blythe Road, and not to the Scribe, who alone is responsible for their safe keeping. 1951 Jrnl. Polynesian Soc. 60 156 The accounts had been squarely kept by the island Scribe. 2016 B. S. Bauer et al. Voices from Vilcabamba v. 216 The testimonies..were copied on 17 March 1595 by Antonio de Olave, the public scribe of Vilcabamba. 5. A person who copies or transcribes manuscripts, esp. one employed as a copyist in ancient or medieval times. Now chiefly historical. ΘΚΠ society > communication > writing > writer > [noun] > copyist librarya1382 scribe1535 exemplifier1552 stationer1576 copier1597 transcriber1610 transcriptor1617 copy-clerk1623 exscribera1631 bibliographer1656 calligrapher1662 librarian1670 copist1682 copyist1699 calligraph1801 copiator1811 calligraphist1816 copying clerk1836 chirographer1848 1535 G. Joye Apol. Tindale sig. f. iiij^v I tolde his scrybe, euen him that wrote and correckted the testament for him. 1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. to Rdr. sig. A5 The Grecians..had many of their seruants, ready scribes, to copie them [sc. the books] out. a1638 J. Mede Wks. (1672) iv. xcii. 878 I could..have lent you a Copy, it may be, as good as the Authors; I believe somewhat more distinct, by such directions as I gave my Scribe. 1746 P. Francis tr. Horace Art of Poetry 481 We ne'er those Scribes with Mercy treat, Who, though advis'd, the same Mistakes repeat. 1774 T. Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry I. iii. 140 The illuminations and paintings of this superb manuscript..were most probably begun as soon as the scribe had finished his part. 1850 J. Forshall & F. Madden Wyclif's Bible I. p. xlvii Each scribe has peculiarities of orthography. 1876 W. De G. Birch Hist., Art & Palaeogr. of MS styled Utrecht Psalter iv. 165 The particular kind of Rustic lettering adopted by the scribe of the Utrecht Psalter. 1946 E. Diehl Bookbinding I. iv. 53 There were undoubtedly trained scribes in England outside of the monastic scriptoria before the advent of printing. 1978 Anglo-Saxon Eng. 7 232 A scribe may have had difficulty in fitting a text into the quire structure of a booklet. 2002 F. Clark ‘Gregorian’ Dialogues iv. 71 The scribe who penned the Ambrosian MS was more aware of due literary forms. 6. a. A writer of poetry, literature, letters, etc.; an author; a person who is in the habit of writing. Also: the writer of a particular text. Sometimes humorous. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > literature > writer or author > [noun] bookerOE writerOE makerc1350 authora1382 inditera1387 pena1398 poetc1400 bookmakera1425 ditera1425 compilera1500 compositor?1533 book writer1565 penner1568 authorizera1579 bookwright1583 scribe1584 epistler1592 penman1592 scriptora1600 composer1603 book-breeder1605 comprisor?1623 volumist1641 scrivenera1660 literatist1660 knight of the quill1692 belletrist1816 scriever1825 creative writer1854 penworker1876 society > communication > correspondence > letter-writing > [noun] > letter-writer secretary1587 epistler1592 epistolizer1615 letter writer1615 epistoler1620 epistolographer1687 scribe1712 epistolist1743 epistolarian1807 epistolographist1818 epistolean1819 1584 King James VI & I Ess. Prentise Poesie sig. Eiij Your shameles rymes,..ô Scrybes prophane [Fr. Profanes escriuains]. 1642 W. Prynne Moderate Reply to Declar. sig. A2^v It is to be wondred how the Scribe of this Declaration, should have an ignorance or malice bigge enough to conceive and bring it forth. 1652 Great & Bloudy Fight France 34 Webb being the better Scribe then Parson, imploys his pen, and tumbles out..expositions of the Parliaments Act of Adultery in Folio. 1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 475. ¶4 I have been engaged in this Subject by the following Letter, which comes to me from some notable young Female Scribe. 1778 F. Burney Jrnl. 20 July in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1994) III. 58 As I am often writing,..he commonly calls me the scribe. 1886 M. F. Tupper My Life as Author iv. 60 Some frivolous larks in the Waterford days, wherewith I need not say the present scribe had nothing to do. 1892 G. Du Maurier Peter Ibbetson I. 7 I am but a poor scribe, ill versed in the craft of wielding words and phrases. 1923 Kingsport (Tennessee) Times 14 Aug. 3/2 In a stinging novel an anonymous scribe has laid unreverend hands on a great institution of learning. 1963 C. Bukowski It catches my Heart in Hands 52 Some gal up North.., she's trying to tell me that H.D. was our greatest scribe. 2010 Victoria (Texas) Advocate (Nexis) 6 Dec. Southern author William Faulkner always advised aspiring scribes to write about what they know. b. A writer of political pamphlets; a political journalist who promotes the interests of a particular party; a party hack. Chiefly depreciative. Now rare. ΘΚΠ society > communication > journalism > journalist > [noun] > political journalist scribe1766 publicist1833 lobby correspondent1886 1766 Gazetteer & New Daily Advertiser 29 Mar. These Scribes were hired to poison the minds of the people, and to cause them to set their faces against the men of America. 1826 in W. Cobbett Rural Rides in Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 23 Sept. 788 The impudent scribes would make us believe, that England was formerly nothing at all till they [sc. the Scotch] came to enlighten it. 1849 ‘G. Goodfellow’ Bk. Liberals iii. iii. 228 The liberal scribe..tells his half-starved patrons that they will have a belly-full, and no end of other good things, if they will continue to support his paper. 1885 Liverpool Daily Post 1 June 5/3 The youngest scribe of a Tory organ could manage national affairs much better. 1921 C. T. Atkinson Marlborough & Rise Brit. Army 477 The consciousness of success emboldened Tory scribes to assail and misrepresent every action of his public and private life. 1971 R. Grunberger 12-year Reich xxvi. 397 A characteristic effusion by a Party scribe stated ‘..Just as the poet walks alongside the king, the journalist must march with the leader.’ c. U.S. A journalist, a reporter. Frequently with preceding modifying word or phrase, esp. indicating the area of journalism, or the newspaper for which the journalist works. Cf. news scribe n. at news n. Compounds 1a, newspaper scribe n. at newspaper n. Compounds 2. ΘΚΠ society > communication > journalism > journalist > [noun] > reporter newshound1699 writer1717 reporter1776 scribe1822 penciller1886 tripe-hound1923 newshawk1928 pencil1976 1822 Daily National Intelligencer (Washington) 20 July By calling public attention to the caballing at and about the Navy Yard near Boston, we have drawn off a part of the attention of the Boston scribes to ourselves. 1895 Herapath's Railway Jrnl. 29 Mar. 320/1 We have the greatest respect for Fleet-street scribes in their proper spheres, but as M.P. for a great mercantile community the London journalist would be a veritable landlubber. 1929 D. Runyon in Cosmopolitan July 58/1 Dave grabs the scribe..and is taking him out for an airing!.. Taking a newspaper guy..out for an airing is apt to cause talk. 1952 Lowell (Mass.) Sunday Sun 3 Feb. 28/1 There's one alleged basketball official who says he'll not be sorry to see a certain sports scribe get hit by a bus. 2007 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) (Nexis) 2 Nov. (Features section) 38 ‘I opened the newspaper at breakfast and came across my name in the gossip pages,’ Lib told a Daily Telegraph scribe. 7. a. A person who writes by hand; a penman. Chiefly with preceding modifying word specifying the degree of skill, as good, great, poor, etc. In later use often archaic or humorous. In early use sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 6a. ΘΚΠ society > communication > writing > writer > writer according to handwriting style > [noun] > skilled or beautiful penman1588 scribe1594 penmastera1661 penwoman1747 calligrapher1752 calligraph1801 calligraphist1816 1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus ii. iv. 4 Write downe thy minde bewray thy meaning so, And if thy stumpes will let thee play the scribe . View more context for this quotation 1658 G. Starkey Pyrotechny iii. 5 Not every one that can furnish himself with a good pen, a neat inkhorn, and fine paper may be adjudged a good Scribe. 1706 W. Penn in Mem. Hist. Soc. Pennsylvania (1872) X. 111 I must recommend him to your love and care, being a scribe and an accomptant. 1849 G. P. R. James Woodman I. ii. 15 I could make out plain court hand a great deal better when written by a good scribe. 1853 C. Dickens Bleak House liii. 506 Mr. Bucket..is no great scribe; rather handling his pen like the pocket-staff he carries about with him. 1901 Signs of Times 15 July 434/2 I felt as though he might not be able to read my writing, for I am such a poor scribe. 1983 Attenzione Sept. 22/4 He inspects the handwriting on every test paper and report. Sloppy scribes are called down to his office and reminded of the importance of dotting their i's and crossing their t's. 2016 Panther (Chapman Univ.) (Nexis) 14 Feb. 1 The style of penmanship, characterized by its elegance and continuity, is a favorite of discerning scribes, who use it everywhere. †b. A teacher of handwriting. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > communication > writing > study or science of written symbols > [noun] > teacher of calligraphy writing master1582 writing school master1590 scrivener1608 scribe1696 1696 in Laws of Maryland (1765) 8 Will. III. c. 17 One Master, one Usher, and one Writing-Master or Scribe, to a School. †8. A cuttlefish. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > class Cephalopoda > [noun] > order Dibranchiata > section Decapoda > family Sepiadae > member of cuttlec1000 seggec1300 polypus?1527 scuttle1530 sepia1569 cuttlefish1591 inkhorn fish1598 ozaena1601 sea-cat1601 sea-cut1601 sound1611 scribe1655 sea-qualm1804 sepiacean1842 sepioid1857 sea-sleeve1867 1655 T. Moffett & C. Bennet Healths Improvem. xviii. 151 Cuttles (called also..scribes for their incky humour). Compounds scribe's palsy n. (also †scribe palsy) now historical and rare a disorder, spec. a form of dystonia, which affects muscles of the hand and results in difficulty in writing; (also) fatigue of the hand after a long period of writing; cf. writer's cramp n., writer's palsy n. at writer n. Compounds 2. ΚΠ 1861 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 4 May 476/1 Scribe-palsy, common in Germany and sometimes seen in England, is another form; it is different from writer's cramp. 1887 F. A. Ober Knockabout Club in Woods 19 The Club attributes it sometimes to scribe's palsy. 2006 K. H. E. Kroemer ‘Extra-Ordinary’ Ergonomics 133 The factors that cause, aggravate or precipitate ODs [sc. occupational diseases] can be part of occupational or leisure activities, as indicated by such names as writer's cramp or scribe's palsy [etc.]. scribe work n. the work of a scribe (in various senses). ΚΠ 1829 W. Irving in Life & Lett. (1864) II. 415 There is likely to be but moderate scribe work in the legation. 1908 Leather Workers' Jrnl. July 626/2 No one knows who will do the scribe work for the Journal for the next six months. 1930 C. A. F. Rhys Davids Milinda-questions 7 Not merely to correct palpable blunders in scribe-work, but to insert, to cut out, to reword. 2009 Telegram & Gaz. (Worcester, Mass.) 29 Oct. 14 Lambert co-writes three songs with Shelton, including ‘Love Song’ (which also has the scribe work of Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood). This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online June 2022). scriben.² Brit. /skrʌɪb/, U.S. /skraɪb/ Forms: 1700s– scribe; Scottish pre-1700 1700s scrib, 2000s– skrib. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: scribe v. Etymology: < scribe v. With sense 2 compare scrieve n. 3, 4. 1. Chiefly Scottish. A piece or scrap of writing; a hasty scribble; a written communication; a letter. Chiefly in a scribe of a pen and variants (cf. scrape of a pen at scrape n.¹ 2b). Chiefly in negative contexts. ΚΠ 1574 in Cal. State Papers Scotl. (1907) V. 16 To me I never resavit ane scrib of pen sen my last being in Scheifeild. 1708 Ravished Maid in Wilderness 38 There was not any of them had a scrib of a Pen against the Union till it was concluded. 1805 R. Anderson Ballads in Cumberland Dial. 69 She..niver yence sent the scribe of a pen. 1864 W. D. Latto Tammas Bodkin xxv. 257 Feint a scribe o' a pen did I receive frae her in reply. 1902 S. R. Crockett Banner of Blue viii. 88 Jeems Carlyle never wrote a scribe o' print, or hand-write either. 1928 A. E. Pease Dict. Dial. N. Riding Yorks. 109/2 Can ye mak oot yon scribe? 1979 J. J. Graham Shetland Dict. 73/2 Wir no hed a scribe fae Willy sin he left. 1996 C. I. Macafee Conc. Ulster Dict. 291/2 Scribe, a mark, a stroke, especially a scribe of the pen. 2017 I. W. D. Forde in Lallans 91 98 Tho A hae awned this LP fur monie eirs..A hedna tuik tent o this bit skrib. 2. a. Joinery. A line scored on a piece of wood in order to indicate where it is to be cut. ΚΠ 1798 T. Jefferson Let. 23 Mar. in Papers (2003) XXX. 204 Saw across the hollow of the block, guiding the saw both before & behind along the same scribe. 1880 Carpentry & Building Aug. 158/2 Having..marked it on the top end of the stiles, measuring from the scribe at the bottom, draw a straight line across the top of the door. 1908 Carpentry & Building Mar. 96/2 With the parting tool cut the piece nearly off, working the tool to the scribes outside. 2012 J. Miller Found. Better Woodworking vii. 153 (caption) Run a dull pencil over a scribed line to highlight both sides of the scribe. b. A tool for scribing a line or mark; spec. (a) a tool with a scooped blade, or with a point and blade, used to carve an identifying mark on a tree, post, etc.; (b) (esp. in Joinery) a hand tool with a sharp point used for scoring wood or other materials, usually in order to indicate the intended cutting line (cf. scribe awl n. at Compounds).timber scribe, tree scribe: see the first element. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for marking out work > [noun] > sharp tracer1756 scriber1781 scribe1812 tracing-point1815 scrieve1828 scribe awl1848 striking knife1901 1812 P. Nicholson Mech. Exercises 212 The Scribe is a spike or large nail ground to a sharp point, to mark the bricks on the face and back by the tapering edges of the mould, in order to cut them. 1844 Age & Argus 20 Apr. 6/2 There was a common oak stave with the inscription ‘Columbus Delano, 1791,’ cut apparently with an ordinary scribe for marking wood. 1856 J. H. Walsh Man. Domest. Econ. ii. iii. 37/2 Certain lines are marked..by means of a scribe, and the wood within these lines on the styles is cut away. 1921 Machinery Sept. 59/1 A marker or scribe for use in laying out lines a predetermined distance from the edge of angle-plates, die-blanks, etc. 1972 Forestry & Home Grown Timber Feb. 37/1 The trees were measured most carefully..and each tree numbered with a scribe. 1988 M. Tucker Techniques in Sedimentology (BNC) 94 Glass slides are first marked with the specimen number of the sample..using a diamond scribe. 2000 Model Railroader Feb. 82/1 Besides the usual tools—small drills, files, a scribe—you will need a wheel puller and a quarterer. Compounds scribe awl n. esp. Joinery a hand tool used for scoring wood or other materials, usually in order to indicate the intended cutting line, having a pointed metal shank and a (typically round or cylindrical) handle; cf. sense 2b(b). ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for marking out work > [noun] > sharp tracer1756 scriber1781 scribe1812 tracing-point1815 scrieve1828 scribe awl1848 striking knife1901 1848 Miami County (Indiana) Sentinel 6 July Bench screws; spirit levels..; scribe and brad awls. 1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Scribe-awl, an awl used for making lines to be followed in sawing or cutting out work. 2007 P. Swift et al. Constr. Plumbing ii. 85 You will find that you can work with much greater accuracy if you use a scribe-awl instead of chalk or a pencil. scribe mark n. (a) a mark made on a tree, as a means of identification when selling or harvesting timber, or to indicate a boundary; (b) a mark scored on wood, stone, or other material indicating the line along which it is to be cut. ΘΚΠ society > communication > indication > marking > marking out > [noun] > scribing > scribe mark scribe mark1802 1802 Derby Mercury 8 Apr. The Oak Trees..under that size, and the Ash Trees, are numbered, in progressive order, with Scribe marks. 1883 J. Nasmyth Autobiogr. xiv. 256 The delicate scribe marks by which the mason some 1900 years ago lined out his work on the blocks of stone he was about to chip. 1957 Walla Walla (Washington) Union-Bull. 20 Dec. 8/7 When using your power saw,..cutting through the scribe mark that has been drawn to exact measure will leave you with a piece shorter than your requirement. 2017 D. A. Wilson Boundary Retracement viii. 248 Many surveyors, especially when doing woodland surveys, carried a special tool for making scribe marks. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022). scribev. Brit. /skrʌɪb/, U.S. /skraɪb/ Forms: late Middle English scrybe, 1500s– scribe. Origin: Perhaps of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Partly formed within English, by conversion. Perhaps partly formed within English, by clipping or shortening. Etymons: Latin scrībere ; scribe n.¹; describe v. Etymology: Partly (i) < classical Latin scrībere to write (see note), partly (ii) < scribe n.¹, and perhaps also (iii) partly (in senses of branch II.) shortened < describe v. Compare earlier scrieve v.¹ and later escribe v.Classical Latin scrībere is < the same Italic base as Oscan scriftas (feminine plural past participle) written, Umbrian screhto (neuter singular past participle) written; perhaps < the same Indo-European base as Byzantine Greek σκάριϕος stylus, outline, sketch (see scarify v.¹), and perhaps also Early Irish scrípaid scratches, Lithuanian skriebti to draw, to cut, and Latvian skrīpat to scratch, scribble, write down. The Latin verb was borrowed into many Germanic languages at an early date (see discussion at shrive v.), and also into Early Irish as scríbaid writes. I. To set down in writing. 1. transitive. To write (a letter, story, words, etc.); to transcribe. Frequently archaic in later use. ΘΚΠ society > communication > writing > [verb (transitive)] > set down in writing adighteOE to set on writea900 dightc1000 writeOE brevea1225 layc1330 indite1340 take1418 annote1449 printa1450 scribe1465 redact?a1475 reduce1485 letter1504 recite1523 to commit to writing (also paper)1529 pen1530 reduce?1533 token up1535 scripture1540 titulea1550 to set down1562 quote1573 to put down1574 paper1594 to write down1594 apprehend1611 fix1630 exarate1656 depose1668 put1910 1465 in W. T. Barbour Hist. Contract in Early Eng. Equity (1914) 219 He shulde scrybe the hole some of the receyt of the seid marchaundise upon the bak of the seid obligacion. 1584 R. Wilson Three Ladies of London sig. C.ij^v Do thou get some more letters, and ile get them scribed of mistars Loue and Conscience. 1859 Wesleyan-Methodist Mag. Jan. 90/2 Ever ready with her pen, while her child was infantile, she would scribe sweet little notes for her. 1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders xliii. 364 Patrick Walker..(he that scribes the stories of the sufferers and has had them printed). 1922 Sat. Evening Post 10 June 19/2 Pages of this fascinating language of the angels old Mudgett had scribed in his secret book. 1992 Option July 137/1 I perused some words scribed by English egghead Simon Reynolds. 2012 Canberra Times (Nexis) 21 Jan. a38 Matthew is a recognised authority on our high country, having scribed several books on the history of the mountains. 2. intransitive. To write; to compose a text or texts; (also) to be employed as scribe or secretary. ΘΚΠ society > communication > writing > [verb (intransitive)] > write as occupation writec1275 scribe1651 scriven1680 clerk1822 1651 A. Weamys Contin. Sydney's Arcadia 49 Being tired with scribing so long upon one subject. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia V. x. vi. 295 Contenting himself with doing nothing but scribble and scribe one day. 1787 J. Clarke Surv. Lakes Cumberland Introd. p.xxvi To scribe, is still to write. 1801 R. Southey Let. 11 Nov. in J. W. Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) I. 378 As if the author of ‘Joan of Arc’ and of ‘Thalaba’ were made a great man by scribing for the Irish Chancellor of the Exchequer. 1838 Fraser's Mag. 17 322 A writer..scribing about Jeffery as if it was a living thing. 1985 B. Zephaniah Dread Affair 54 Here I scribe just doing what comes to me naturally Everything I write is my account of history. 2003 A. Washtell in J. Graham & A. Kelly Writing under Control (ed. 2) iii. 22 As she scribes in front of the whole class, the teacher models how to write a text. II. To mark with a line or groove and related senses. 3. a. transitive. Originally in Joinery: to mark (a piece of wood which is to be cut and fitted to another) with the intended outline, by drawing one point of a pair of compasses along the edge of the original piece in such a way that the other point, moving in parallel, transfers the outline onto the piece to be fitted. Later also more generally: to mark or score (any material) with a sharp instrument, laser, etc., in order to indicate the intended cutting line; (also) to mark or score (such a line or outline).In quot. 1878 intransitive with around. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > perform general or industrial manufacturing processes [verb (transitive)] > other processes cure1633 scribe1678 refinish1820 retort1850 prick1872 supple1876 whizz1882 steam-cure1910 linish1971 society > communication > indication > marking > marking out > mark out [verb (transitive)] > scribe scribe1678 scrieve1830 1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. vi. Explan. Terms 112 To make these two peeces of Stuff joyn close together all the way, they Scribe it, (as they phrase it,) thus. 1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 101/2 Scribe, is the drawing of a line or stroak with the Compasses upon a piece of stuff that is straight, thereby to cut it so as it may join to an Irregular piece, whether bowed or cornered. 1828 Mechanics' Mag. 26 July 441/1 If the compasses are held parallel to the line..in which the stuff is to be moved up after being scribed and cut, Mr. Curtis will find it quite correct. 1868 Amer. Artisan 25 Mar. 165/1 The usual method is to scribe the outline of the cut, and then employ a cold-chisel..to form the necessary groove. 1878 A. M. Mayer Sound xvii. 154 With the separated points of a pair of spring dividers scribe around the edge of the templet. 1967 Electronics 6 Mar. 218 (advt.) Their 4-sided diamond scriber often leaves rough, chipped lines when it scribes crystalline wafers for dicing. 1975 J. B. Harley Ordnance Survey Maps i. 11 A second sheet of plastic material..is placed in exact registration with the first, and is then used for plotting and scribing the contours. 2008 R. Peters Pop. Mech. Trim Carpentry 56/1 To scribe a piece of trim with a compass, place the trim where it will be installed [etc.]. b. transitive. To cut or shape the edge of (a piece of wood, metal, etc.) so that it will form a close fit with the shaped edge of another piece or with an uneven or irregular surface. Frequently with to.In quot. 1837 with into: to fit (something) into a part which is cut or shaped for the purpose. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > perform general or industrial manufacturing processes [verb (transitive)] > types of shaping process worka1325 strike1485 sink1526 print1530 cut1600 to work out1600 strain1674 scribe1679 stamp1798 slab1868 squirt1881 tablet1891 extrude1913 fabricate1926 1679 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. viii. 140 The Joysts are always scribed to project over..the roundness or wayniness of the upper side of the Girder. 1795 Carpenters' Rules of Work 18 Mop-boards scribed to stairs, 9d. per foot. 1812 P. Nicholson Mech. Exercises 177 Thus the skirting boards of a room should be scribed to the floor. 1837 N. Whittock et al. Compl. Bk. Trades 288 Parts of the lock and springs are scribed in to the butt of the gun-stock. 1908 National Builder Jan. 31/1 The writer has worked beside good mechanics that seemed to have a great deal of trouble to get the base scribed to the floor. 1986 A. Limon in A. Limon et al. Home Owner Man. (ed. 2) i. iv. 77 A batten is then scribed to fit under the tiles to make a neat finish. 2004 Tool & Machinery Catal. 2005 (Axminster Power Tool Centre Ltd.) ix. 30/1 The scribing or in-cannel gouge is used to make straight cuts which are curved in section, as when scribing the shoulder of a tenon to meet a mortice in a round leg. 4. a. transitive. To cut (a line or groove) in a surface using a tool with a sharp point. ΘΚΠ society > communication > indication > marking > mark [verb (transitive)] > by cutting score1590 scribe1800 nick1827 1800 Compl. Young Man's Compan. 445 When if you have a mind to ornament it by any other lines.., lay on your ruler, and with your ivory point scribe them. 1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 59 A drawing-board..on which the lines are first chalked and then carved, or scribed. 1908 Amer. Miller Oct. 780/2 Scribe three lines down the length of the board. 1928 Motor Boating Apr. 204/2 Scribe a groove around the hull to permanently mark the water line before starting to bur or scrape off the paint. 2006 M. Long Archit. Acoustics xxi. 741 The original Edison system employed a stylus attached to a diaphragm that scribed a groove into aluminum foil wrapped around a rotating cylinder. b. transitive. To mark or trace the shape of (a circle, arc, etc.); to delineate. Now frequently in extended use. Cf. describe v. 5a. ΘΚΠ society > communication > representation > a plastic or graphic representation > graphic representation > represent graphically [verb (transitive)] > line or figure drawc1300 trace1390 scribe1887 1887 Eng. Mechanic & World of Sci. 29 July 521/1 Let C O be desired cut-off, join this to centre, and scribe an arc L.P. cutting small circle where the line intersects at P. 1890 J. W. C. Haldane Civil & Mech. Engin. (ed. 2) v. 68 ‘Oh,’ said the person addressed, ‘mak' it that size,’ scribing a circle round him on the floor with the point of his boot. 1905 Draftsman 4 309/2 Scribe a circle H of any radius, and the point P at any distance from H. 1990 E. Kraft Reservations Recommended iv. 151 She..watches her feet scribing arcs in the soapy, greasy water. 2008 P. Polizatto Hunga Dunga (2009) 261 From here, we could have watched the sun rise, scribe a semi-circle in the sky, and set. All three, without ever moving. c. transitive. To draw (an image) by making grooves on or engraving a surface using a sharp or pointed tool. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > sculpture or carving > incising or intaglio > incise (marks or figures) [verb (transitive)] writeeOE gravec1275 raspc1400 insculp?a1475 insculpt1487 scrape1532 sculp?1533 engrave1542 enchase1579 incarve1596 engraven1605 trencha1616 scratch1644 style1864 lithograph1872 scribe1896 1896 R. Kipling Seven Seas 129 He..Pictured the sabre-tooth tiger..—Pictured the mountainous mammoth..—Out of the love that he bore them, scribing them clearly on bone. 1917 Dublin Rev. Jan. 101 Another picture, however, is quite intelligible. It is scribed on a horn, and was found at Laugerie Basse, an important prehistoric station. 2006 C. Frazier Thirteen Moons iv. i. 279 He..swept his palms in broad strokes to smooth the dirt, and then he sharpened a stick with his knife and sat a long session scribing interlocking rivers and creeks and ridges. 5. transitive. To mark (timber, a cask, etc.) with a number or symbol, esp. in order to indicate the weight, volume, etc., or as a means of identification. Also: to inscribe (an identifying mark, indication of volume, etc.) on timber or other goods. Now rare. ΘΚΠ society > communication > indication > marking > marking to identify > be distinctive mark on [verb (transitive)] > put identifying mark on > commercial goods scribe1806 tally1837 trademark1859 badge1980 1806 Derby Mercury 6 Feb. To be sold by auction... Lot 1. Twenty-one ash and elm trees, Numbered and Scribed, on Wm. Beresford's Farm at Stydd. 1843 Freeman's Jrnl. (Dublin) 27 Oct. 1/6 All pieces of wood..are to be treated in the same manner..by scribing the number of cubical contents upon each piece. 1883 W. C. Russell Sailors' Lang. Scribe, to mark packages in bond with the number and weight. 1913 Packages Apr. 71/1 Inspectors when regauging shall erase all old gauges before scribing the new gauge on such barrels. 1932 Veneers Aug. 17/2 In purchasing..tropical woods, that are rafted, the usual method is to scribe a number on the upper part of the log that is out of water. 1971 B. Gilding Journeymen Coopers of E. London 33 Finally, unloaded, gauged and scribed, the casks are either delivered to the merchant or are ‘housed’ in the vaults. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.¹c1175n.²1574v.1465
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