scribal

adjective

scrib·​al ˈskrī-bəl How to pronounce scribal (audio)
: of, relating to, or due to a scribe

Examples of scribal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There’s no scribal activity. Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 22 June 2020 The alphabets packaged in a light scroll allowed for literacy to be more broadly accessible to the higher orders of society, rather than just the specialized vocation of a scribal class. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 5 Jan. 2013 This could simply be the result of changes made in the process of scribal transmission—alterations commonly attend the reproduction of old narratives—but some see it as reason for skepticism. Elizabeth Winkler, The New Yorker, 19 Nov. 2022 In a scribal culture, maintaining some measure of control over ideas and their dissemination was straightforward. Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2019 This involved faithfully copying the Middle English text from the medieval manuscript, then editing that text for a modern reader, such as adding modern punctuation and correcting scribal errors. Erin Connelly, Smithsonian, 19 Apr. 2017 This involved faithfully copying the Middle English text from the medieval manuscript, then editing that text for a modern reader, such as adding modern punctuation and correcting scribal errors. Erin Connelly, Smithsonian, 19 Apr. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scribal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1693, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scribal was in 1693

Dictionary Entries Near scribal

Cite this Entry

“Scribal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scribal. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

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