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definitions

script

[skript]
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noun
  1. the letters or characters used in writing by hand; handwriting, especially cursive writing.
  2. a manuscript or document.
  3. the text of a manuscript or document.
  4. the manuscript or one of various copies of the written text of a play, motion picture, or radio or television broadcast.
  5. any system of writing.
  6. Printing. a type imitating handwriting.Compare cursive.
  7. Digital Technology. an executable section of code that automates a task: You will have to run the script to install the program on your computer.
verb (used with object)
  1. to write a script for: The movie was scripted by a famous author.
  2. to plan or devise; make arrangements for: The week-long festivities were scripted by a team of experts.
  3. Digital Technology. to write an executable section of code for (a program) in order to automate a task: You can script a program that will scan your files.
verb (used without object)
  1. Digital Technology. to write an executable section of code that automates a task:Most programmers script in more than one programming language.

Origin of script

1325–75; Middle English (noun) < Latin scriptum, noun use of neuter past participle of scrībere “to write”; replacing Middle English scrit, from Old French escrit, from Latin, as above
Related formsscript·er, nounun·der·script, noun
Can be confusedscrip script

Script.

  1. Scriptural.
  2. Scripture.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for script

writing, dialogue, scenario, manuscript, text, book, article, copy, libretto, chirography, fist, hand, penmanship, letters, characters, longhand, calligraphy, words, typescript, lines

Examples from the Web for script

Contemporary Examples of script

Historical Examples of script

British Dictionary definitions for script

script

noun
  1. handwriting as distinguished from print, esp cursive writing
  2. the letters, characters, or figures used in writing by hand
  3. any system or style of writing
  4. written copy for the use of performers in films and plays
  5. law
    1. an original or principal document
    2. (esp in England) a will or codicil or the draft for one
  6. any of various typefaces that imitate handwriting
  7. computing a series of instructions that is executed by a computer program
  8. an answer paper in an examination
  9. another word for scrip 3
verb
  1. (tr) to write a script for

Word Origin for script

C14: from Latin scriptum something written, from scrībere to write
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for script
n.

late 14c., "something written," earlier scrite (c.1300), from Old French escrit "piece of writing, written paper; credit note, IOU; deed, bond" (Modern French écrit) from Latin scriptum "a writing, book; law; line, mark," noun use of neuter past participle of scribere "to write," from PIE *skribh- "to cut, separate, sift" (cf. Greek skariphasthai "to scratch an outline, sketch," Lettish skripat "scratch, write," Old Norse hrifa "scratch"), from root *(s)ker- "cut, incise" (cf. Old English sceran "cut off, shear;" see shear (v.)) on the notion of carving marks in stone, wood, etc.

Meaning "handwriting" is recorded from 1860. Theatrical use, short for manuscript, is attested from 1884. The importance of Rome to the spread of civilization in Europe is attested by the fact that the word for "write" in Celtic and Germanic (as well as Romanic) languages derives from scribere (e.g. French écrire, Irish scriobhaim, Welsh ysgrifennu, German schreiben). The cognate Old English scrifan means "to allot, assign, decree" (see shrive; also cf. Old Norse skript "penance") and Modern English uses write (v.) to express this action.

v.

"adapt (a work) for broadcasting or film," 1935, from script (n.). Related: Scripted; scripting.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper