Dictionary

scrivener en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈskɹɪvnə(ɹ)/ (UK)
• /ˈskɹɪvənəɹ/ (US)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

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 (“to write”).

Meanings

1. A professional writer; one whose occupation is to draw contracts or prepare writings.
   • Below this, sat two scrivener monks at two little desks, on which were scrolls of parchment and ink-horns and goose-quill pens. 1936, Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 40:
   • ハイ そうですね ではご売却のご契約に関する細かいご説明はご帰国の際に司法書士を交えて…ハイ 2016 [2010], Akiko Higashimura, chapter 34, in Sarah Alys Lindholm, transl., Princess Jellyfish, omnibus vol. 3, Kodansha Comics, translation of 海月姫 [Kuragehime], →ISBN, page 318:
   • The nature of my avocations for the last thirty years has brought me into more than ordinary contact with what would seem an interesting and somewhat singular set of men, of whom as yet nothing that I know of has ever been written:—I mean the law-copyists or scriveners. 1853, Herman Melville, “Bartleby, the Scrivener”, in The Piazza Tales, New York: Dix, Edwards & Co, published 1856:
   • 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[…] 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[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene vi]:
2. (obsolete) One whose business is to place money at interest; a broker.

Forms

Deriveds

money scrivener

Relateds

notary

Synonyms

amanuensis · scribe · tabellion

Translations (21)

es escribiente (professional writer) · tr arzuhâlci (professional writer) · fr scribe (professional writer) · pt escrivão (professional writer) · pl skryba (professional writer) · fr écrivain public (professional writer) · de Schreiber (professional writer) · ru пи́сарь (professional writer) · it scrivano (professional writer) · ast escribán (professional writer) · nb skriver (professional writer) · ca escrivà (professional writer) · eo skribisto (professional writer) · gv cleragh (professional writer) · la tabelliō (professional writer) · bg писар (professional writer) · nl schrijver (professional writer) · ru писе́ц (professional writer) · es escribano (professional writer) · pt escriba (professional writer) · es escribana (professional writer)