English
scripture
Scripture comes from Latin scrīptūra ‘a writing, scripture’, from scrībō ‘to write’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kréybʰeti.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)kréybʰetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*skreiβō‘to carve’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEscrībō‘to write’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEscrīptūra‘a writing, scripture’supine of scrībō
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500scripture
- Englishearliest quotation 1732same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)kréybʰetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*skreiβō‘to carve’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEscrībō‘to write’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEscrīptūra‘a writing, scripture’supine of scrībō
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500scripture
- Englishearliest quotation 1732same form
Earliest quotation: 1732, George Reynolds, A diſſertation: or: “In a word, they were made uſe of by…”
A compound of *(s)ker- ‘to cut off, sever’ + *(s)kreybʰ- ‘to scratch, to tear’
Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- ‘to cut off, sever’
Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreybʰ- ‘to scratch, to tear’
Linked words
through Proto-Italic *skreiβō ‘to carve’
transcription, shriver, transcribe, ascribe, inscribe, 28 more
through Latin scrībō ‘to write’
description, prescription, transcript, inscription, prescribe, scribe, conscription, scribble, shrift, nondescript, scrivener, conscript, descript, 31 more
Today it means
noun A sacred writing or holy book.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *(s)kréybʰeti / scripture