scrivener

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scrivener

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From Middle English scryvener, alteration of scryveyn, from Anglo-Norman scrivein (“professional penman, copyist”), from Old French escrivain, from Vulgar Latin *scriba, *scribanem, from Latin scriba, from scrībō (“I write”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈskɹɪvnə(ɹ)/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈskɹɪvənəɹ/

scrivener (plural scriveners)

1. A professional writer; one whose occupation is to draw contracts or prepare writings.
   • c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: ”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     Scrivener (enters with a paper in hand):Here is the indictment of the good Lord Hastings,
     Which in a set hand fairly is engrossed
     That is may be today read o'er in Paul's.
     And mark how well the sequel hangs together:
     Eleven hours I have spent to write it over […]

   • 1936, Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 40:

     Below this, sat two scrivener monks at two little desks, on which were scrolls of parchment and ink-horns and goose-quill pens.

2. (obsolete) One whose business is to place money at interest; a broker.

• amanuensis
• scribe
• tabellion

• notary

• “scrivener”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “scrivener”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.