inscribe

[ in-skrahyb ]

verb (used with object)

, in·scribed, in·scrib·ing.

1. to address or dedicate (a book, photograph, etc.) informally to a person, especially by writing a brief personal note in or on it.
2. to mark (a surface) with words, characters, etc., especially in a durable or conspicuous way.
3. to write, print, mark, or engrave (words, characters, etc.).
4. to enroll, as on an official list.
5. Geometry. to draw or delineate (one figure) within another figure so that the inner lies entirely within the boundary of the outer, touching it at as many points as possible:

   to inscribe a circle in a square.

6. British.
   1. to issue (a loan) in the form of shares with registered stockholders.
   2. to sell (stocks).
   3. to buy (stocks).

inscribe

/ ɪnˈskraɪb /

verb

1. to make, carve, or engrave (writing, letters, a design, etc) on (a surface such as wood, stone, or paper)
2. to enter (a name) on a list or in a register
3. to sign one's name on (a book, photograph, etc) before presentation to another person
4. to draw (a geometric construction such as a circle, polygon, etc) inside another construction so that the two are in contact but do not intersect Compare circumscribe

Derived Forms

• inˈscribable, adjective
• inˈscriber, noun
• inˈscribableness, noun

Other Words From

• in·scriba·ble adjective
• in·scriba·ble·ness noun
• in·scriber noun
• prein·scribe verb (used with object) preinscribed preinscribing
• rein·scribe verb (used with object) reinscribed reinscribing
• super·in·scribe verb (used with object) superinscribed superinscribing
• unin·scribed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inscribe¹

1545–55; < Latin inscrībere, equivalent to in- in- ² + scrībere to write; scribe ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of inscribe¹

C16: from Latin inscrībere; see inscription

Example Sentences

If nothing was inscribed on his pedestal, you couldn’t even tell what war he represented.

From Washington Post

This is because permanent conflict punctuated by periodic carnage is inscribed into the very DNA of the Israeli-Palestinian relationship as it has existed for nearly 75 years.

From Time

Fourteen years later, Vorderstrasse’s quest to get Engdahl’s name inscribed has grown into something much bigger.

From Washington Post

Each slice had to be straight, and no slice could pass through the inscribed blue circle that represented your original desired pancake.

From FiveThirtyEight

Each slice must be straight, and no slice can pass through the inscribed blue circle that represents your original desired pancake.

From FiveThirtyEight

Ushers passed around little pieces of paper on which congregants could inscribe messages of support to victims of sexual abuse.

From The Daily Beast

And he himself choose a given private «Watchword» (Losungswort) and inscribe it in the appointed place in the counter-certificate.

From Project Gutenberg

The nations who rove over the western prairies, inscribe them on the skins of the buffalo.

From Project Gutenberg

Will that wing of the Prohibition army which accepts the Bible as its guide inscribe these texts upon its banner?

From Project Gutenberg

It is enough to inscribe on the mausoleum of any man, that "he rescued his country from a Democracy!"

From Project Gutenberg

If there be any on which we dare not inscribe it, they are not for us.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• carve
• engrave
• etch