cursive

adjective

cur·sive | \ ˈkər-siv

Definition of cursive

(Entry 1 of 2)

: running, coursing: such as

a of writing : flowing often with the strokes of successive characters joined and the angles rounded

b : having a flowing, easy, impromptu character

cursive

noun

Definition of cursive (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a manuscript written in cursive writing also : cursive writing

2 : a style of printed letter resembling handwriting

Other Words from cursive Example Sentences Learn More about cursive

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Examples of cursive in a Sentence

Noun

He writes in cursive when he takes notes.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Tell time by hands on a clock Like cursive writing, analog clocks may be teetering on extinction. — Kim Komando, USA TODAY, "20 everyday tasks that nobody does anymore," 13 June 2019 Those that knew Helen could count on receiving thoughtful notes in her perfect cursive penmanship. — courant.com, "Helen Rogers," 20 June 2019 Sara, who in April won the Nicholas Maxim Award of the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest for cursive handwriting, threw the pitch to fellow Frederick native and Orioles reliever Branden Kline. — Jon Meoli, baltimoresun.com, "10-year-old Sara Hinsley, born without hands, throws out first pitch at Orioles game," 29 June 2019 But the artifacts are dwarfed by thousands of note cards covered in minuscule cursive handwriting. — Gal Beckerman, New York Times, "The Holocaust Survivor Who Deciphered Nazi Doublespeak," 24 June 2019 Carleton’s contemporaneous notes are a model of clarity and completeness, telling the whole story in chronological order in elegant cursive lettering. — Sean P. Murphy, BostonGlobe.com, "A broken refrigerator and the store that took too long to make things right," 10 June 2019 Or cursive can just become some strange and secret writing for grandparents. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Your Say: How can we improve public education?," 14 June 2019 The trademark of Lingua Franca sweaters were embroidered hip hop lyrics in a whimsical cursive font—that is, until Donald Trump became president. — Marina Liao, Marie Claire, "Show You "Give a Damn" With This New Bag Benefitting She Should Run," 5 Oct. 2018 More than a dozen other states are reinstating cursive lessons in schools. — Jessie Balmert, Cincinnati.com, "Ohio students could learn cursive handwriting again," 20 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

In an Instagram post on Sunday, Offset shared a screengrab of himself FaceTiming Cardi B, who appeared to be lifting her leg up to show off his name tattooed in cursive on the back of her thigh. — Jen Juneau, PEOPLE.com, "Cardi B Shares Bouncy Video of Kulture with Mom's 'Energy' — but Says Her 'Attitude' Is 'Dad'," 23 July 2019 Research shows that writing in print, in cursive, or by typing are each associated with distinct brain patterns and significant learning outcomes. — Vanessa Chang, WIRED, "How Phone Taps and Swipes Train Us to Be Better Consumers," 10 July 2019 The country music star, 39, memorialized his 3-year-old son by getting River's name tattooed on his right forearm in black cursive script three weeks after the toddler died. — Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY, "Granger Smith debuts new tattoo in honor of son River following his tragic drowning," 26 June 2019 The Cranks Bible read the title in vibrant cursive script. — Julia Tausch, Bon Appetit, "'The Cranks Bible' Is the Only Vegetarian Cookbook I'll Ever Need," 13 June 2018 In the music video, it's seen after the second verse, written in cursive on a neon sign in the background. — Glamour, "Taylor Swift Just Dropped Another Huge Hint About Her New Album Title," 25 May 2019 There’s a 5 on the actress’s rib cage beneath her shirt, and a chai—the Jewish symbol for life—on her inner wrist shares real estate with a cursive yes that was inspired by an early Yoko Ono installation. — Julia Felsenthal, Marie Claire, "It's Tessa Thompson's Time to Shine," 11 June 2019 Her name was written in cursive script at the bottom, following by her dates. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Jenna Bush Hager Commemorates the Anniversary of Barbara Bush's Death with a Touching Instagram Post," 18 Apr. 2019 Mostly hidden on the inside of her right arm, the tiny piece is a word in cursive that was too small for most people to decipher. — Evelyn Wang, Teen Vogue, "Kaia Gerber Got Her First Ever Teeny Tiny Tattoo," 12 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cursive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for cursive

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin cursīvus, from Latin cursus, past participle of currere "to run" + -īvus -ive — more at current entry 1

Note: The word cursīva (scrīptūra "writing" presumably understood) is used for scripts by the German Benedictine monk and scribe Leonhard Wagner (Leonardus Wirchlin, 1453-1522) in Proba centum scripturarum una manu exaratarum (1507), which named and exemplified a hundred different hands from the 11th century to the author's own day. It is unclear if the word was used earlier. (There is no lemma for cursīvus in the Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch.) For Latin cursus as the past participle of currere—for expected *co(r)stus—see note at course entry 1.