inscription

American  

[in-skrip-shuhn] / ɪnˈskrɪp ʃən /

noun

1. something inscribed.

2. a historical, religious, or other record cut, impressed, painted, or written on stone, brick, metal, or other hard surface.

3. a brief, usually informal dedication, as of a book or a work of art.

4. a note, as a dedication, that is written and signed by hand in a book.

5. the act of inscribing.

6. Pharmacology. the part of a prescription indicating the drugs and the amounts to be mixed.

7. British.

   1. an issue of securities or stocks.

   2. a block of shares in a stock, as bought or sold by one person.

8. Also called legend.  Numismatics. the lettering in the field of a coin, medal, etc.

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inscription British  

/ ɪnˈskrɪpʃən /

noun

1. something inscribed, esp words carved or engraved on a coin, tomb, etc

2. a signature or brief dedication in a book or on a work of art

3. the act of inscribing

4. philosophy linguistics an element of written language, esp a sentence Compare utterance 1

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Other Word Forms

• inscriptional adjective
• inscriptionless adjective
• inscriptively adverb
• preinscription noun
• superinscription noun

Etymology

Origin of inscription

1350–1400; Middle English inscripcio ( u ) n < Latin inscrīptiōn- (stem of inscrīptiō ), equivalent to inscrīpt ( us ) (past participle of inscrībere to inscribe ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Two weeks after that, he sent it back to me with this inscription: “For John Wirth, with my appreciation, John Irving.”

From Los Angeles Times

Indian authorities said an inscription on one of the caskets unearthed with the treasure confirmed the contents -- which include bone fragments -- as "relics of the Buddha".

From Barron's

The unearthing in 2018 of a charcoal inscription at Pompeii featuring a date in October has been grist to the mill of those who seek to push the eruption beyond August.

From The Wall Street Journal

It also bears an inscription which indicates it was minted in Edinburgh.

From BBC

The alabaster vase bears inscriptions in four ancient languages: Akkadian, Elamite, Persian, and Egyptian.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• caption
• engraving
• epitaph
• lettering
• signature