scriptorium

[skrip-tawr-ee-uh m, -tohr-]

noun, plural scrip·to·ri·ums, scrip·to·ri·a [skrip-tawr-ee-uh, -tohr-] /skrɪpˈtɔr i ə, -ˈtoʊr-/.

a room, as in a monastery, library, or other institution, where manuscripts are stored, read, or copied.

Origin of scriptorium

1765–75; < Medieval Latin scrīptōrium; see script, -tory²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for scriptorium

Historical Examples of scriptorium

The hardships of the scriptorium were greatest, of course, in winter.
Bibliomania in the Middle Ages
Frederick Somner Merryweather
The Scriptorium is said to have been usually over the chapter-house.
Scenes and Characters of the Middle Ages
Edward Lewes Cutts
The care of the library and the scriptorium was intrusted to the librarian.
The Catholic World. Volume II; Numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
E. Rameur
The scriptorium of the Cathedral was an important department, and was ably governed.
Medival London
William Benham
He set all in order in the scriptorium where he had toiled for five long years.
In the Days of the Guild
Louise Lamprey

British Dictionary definitions for scriptorium

scriptorium

noun plural -riums or -ria (-rɪə)

a room, esp in a monastery, set apart for the writing or copying of manuscripts

Word Origin for scriptorium

from Medieval Latin

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 scriptorium

"writing room," 1774, from Late Latin scriptorium "place for writing," noun use of neuter of Latin scriptorius "pertaining to writing," from Latin scriptus, past participle of scribere "to write" (see script (n.)).