▪ I. writing, vbl. n.
(ˈraɪtɪŋ)
[f. write v. + -ing1.]
I. 1. a. The action of one who writes, in various senses; the penning or forming of letters or words; the using of written characters for purposes of record, transmission of ideas, etc. Also with out.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 80 Of silence & of speche nis bute a lore; & forði, ine writunge, heo eorneð boðe togederes. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 61 For-þi I lere ȝou, lordynges such writynge ȝe leue, To writen in Wyndouwes of ȝoure wel dedes. 1377 Ibid. B. xii. 84 Þe clergye..conforted þe womman. Holykirke knoweth þis þat crystes writyng saued. 1487–8 Rec. St. Mary at Hill 132 For the wrytyng of the names of the ffounnderes. 1513 More Rich. III, Wks. 56 For al y⊇ time..could scant haue suffised vnto y⊇ bare wryting alone. 1549 in Feuillerat Revels Edw. VI (1914) 42 To waplett the payntour..ffor the wryting of ix peces of Canvas. 1631 T. Powell Tom All Trades (1876) 141 The Scriveners..had no imployment, but writing of blanke Bonds. 1671 Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 508 This way that I propose of the King's writing himself, is the only way to effect it. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 288 He directed me to send it with a Letter of his Writing. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XVIII. 917/2 The bark of trees was also used for writing by the ancients. 1827 Faraday Chem. Manip. xvi. 423 The diamond should be held in a vertical position during the writing. 1849 M. P. Merrifield Orig. Treat. I. p. xxix, The two branches were frequently practised by the same person, whence the term ‘writing’..was applied to painting on glass, which was also called ‘writing on glass’. 1882 N. & Q. 30 Dec. 542/2, I believe Lancaster first suggested writing on sand with the finger. 1898 J. Taylor tr. Kautzsch's Hist. Lit. O.T. 10 The writing out of the products of those earlier days. |
| fig. 1532 More Confut. Tindale 413 He that hath yt [sc. faith] in his herte of goddes own wrytynge. |
b. at this (present) writing, at the time of writing this. Also
up to this (..) writing.
| 1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to Mrs. Thistlethwayte 4 Jan., I am, at this present writing, not very much turned for the recollection of what is diverting. 1832 J. P. Kennedy Swallow B. (1860) 13 An account of all my doings up to this present writing. 1846 C. Mitchell Newsp. Press Direct. 77 The critical (musical) department..is at ‘this present writing’, to use an Irishism, nothing if not meagre. 1884 Cent. Mag. Jan. 433/2 It is at this writing given out that [etc.]. |
c. = typewriting
vbl. n.| 1883 J. G. Petrie Man. for Type-Writer 5 While the writing is being done by the fingers of the right hand. 1899 Wardle Univ. Typewriter Man. 10 It also keeps the paper in position for writing. |
d. Computers. The process of causing an item of data to be entered into a store or recorded in or on a storage medium.
| 1946 [see write v. 3 h]. 1970 O. Dopping Computers & Data Processing xv. 244 Most writing errors on tape, like most reading errors, are caused by small particles of dust between tape and magnetic head, and in most cases the dust particle is removed..if the writing is repeated. 1973 C. W. Gear Introd. Computer Sci. iv. 164 A computer input/output controller..sequences the reading and writing of characters. |
2. a. The art or practice of penmanship or handwriting.
| c 1440 Lydg. Hors, Shepe & G. 187 Yiff pennys & writyng were a-way, Off remembraunce we had lost the kay. c 1440 Jacob's Well 278 Johun enformyd hym in wrytyng, & in endyȝtyng. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies i. xxv. 80 They having no vse of bookes, or writing. 1638 Junius Paint. Ancients 126 Before the invention of letters and writing. 1728 Chambers Cycl. (1738) s.v., Writing is now chiefly practised among us by means of pen, ink, and paper. 1742 Fielding J. Andrews ii. xvii, The poor people..bred their son to writing and accounts, and other learning. 1784 T. Astle (title), The Origin and Progress of Writing, as well hieroglyphic as elementary. 1828 Mirror V. 75/1 The three R's—Reading, Writing, and Rithmetic. 1892 Pop. Sci. Monthly XLII. 244 Writing..is the art of fixing speech by conventional signs. |
b. Style, form, or method of fashioning letters or other conventional signs (
esp. in handwriting or penmanship); the ‘hand’ of a particular person.
| c 1440 Jacob's Well 278 Þat his voys, his wrytynge,..was lych þe voys, lyche þe hand,.. of Johun his mayster. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 148/2 False wrytynge, plastographia. 1476 Acta Auditorum (1839) 42/1 It wes his awne propir hand and writting. 1560 Bible Ezra (Genev.) iv. 7 The writing of the letter was the Aramites writing. 1590 P. Bales Writing Schoolem. Q 2 The Arte and knowledge of faire writing. 1602 [J. Willis] Art Stenogr. (title-p.), A very easie direction for Steganographie, or Secret Writing. 1620, etc. [see short-writing, shorthand c]. 1658 Phillips, Calligraphy, fair, or handsome writing. 1728 Chambers Cycl. (1738) s.v. Gothic, Gothic character, or writing, is a character, or manner of writing, which [etc.]. 1748 [see hieroglyphical a. 1]. 1784 T. Astle Orig. & Progr. Writing 7 This..produced a further change in writing. 1819 Shelley Cenci iv. iv. 95 Savella. Knowest thou this writing, Lady?.. Lucretia. It should be Orsino's hand! 1883 Stationer & Bookseller 8 May 10/1 Best finished round-hand writing. 1892 Zangwill Bow Mystery 80 The landlady knew his writing. |
c. The occupation of a (professional) writer.
| 1594 Hist. Writers to Signet (1890) 230 To be suspendit fra all writting quhill the payment of the foirsaid pane. 1681 Sc. Acts (1820) VIII. 244/1 All writers to the Signet, All publict Notars and other persons imployed in writeing or Agenting. |
3. a. The action of composing and committing to manuscript; expression of thoughts or ideas in written words; literary composition or production.
| c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 326 Ther-to he koude endite and make a thyng, Ther koude no wight pynchen at his writyng. 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas i. 2677 As the poete bi wrytyng techith vs. 1485 Caxton Chas. Gt. 1 Al thynges that ben reduced by wrytyng ben wryton to our doctryne. 15.. in Dunbar's Poems (S.T.S.) II. 311 Gif lytil rewarde be in wryting, Bettir war leif my paper quhyte. 1597–8 Bacon Ess., Studies (Arb.) 10 Reading maketh a full man,..and writing an exacte man. 1639 Hamilton Papers (Camden) 89 Efter the wrytinge of this other the Lord Oboyne..delyuered me your Ma[jes]ties of the 13. 1664 Extr. St. Papers Friends Ser. iii. (1912) 213 Hee..is..not of parts for the writeing of such a Letter. 1759 Sterne Tr. Shandy ii. xi, Writing..is but a different name for conversation. 1835 Marryat Olla Podr. xxx, Magazine writing..is the most difficult of all writing. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate iii, Though all three..could talk French fast enough, the writing of it was another matter. |
b. Style or manner of composition or literary expression.
| 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xx. (Percy Soc.) 98 Besechyng you..to pardon me of my rude wrytyng, For with woful herte was myne endytyng. c 1530 L. Cox Rhet. (1899) 84 Doubtful wrytynge..is whan the wordes may be expounded dyuers wayes. a 1626 Bacon Ch. Controv. Wks. 1879 I. 344 Bitter and earnest writing must not hastily be condemned. 1664 Dryden Rival Ladies Ep. Ded., Supposing our countrymen had not received this writing [of scenes in verse] till of late. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 409 ¶10 A finished Taste of good Writing. 1760 D. Webb Inq. Beauties Painting vii. 199 It is the character of fine writing..that the thoughts should be natural. 1819 Keats in Forman Wks. (1883) III. 320 Fine writing is, next to fine doing, the top thing in the world. 1884 Church Bacon ix. 220 Easy and unstudied as his writing seems. |
c. The composition of music.
| 1782 Burney Hist. Music 490 The most subtle and elaborate productions [sc. masses] that I have ever seen in this kind of writing. 1837 Penny Cycl. VIII. 109/1 The art of writing in parts. 1889 Prout Harmony (ed. 3) 245 Four-part writing is justly considered the foundation of harmony. |
d. With
advs., as
down (
write v. 22 c),
in,
off,
up. (
Cf. 12 g.)
| 1897 Westm. Gaz. 28 Dec. 6/3 Some scheme for the writing down of capital. 1900 Ibid. 22 Nov. 9/2 [The] music-hall agents..said that due notice of ‘writing in’ was given. 1912 Times 19 Dec. 18/5 The scheme provided for the writing off of capital liabilities. 1951 E. E. Evans-Pritchard Social Anthropol. v. 88 In this writing-up side of his work the social anthropologist faces a serious difficulty. 1960 Guardian 24 June 10/7 Simplification without ‘writing down’ can serve a good purpose. 1972 Listener 9 Nov. 644 The slick writing-down that many professional children's writers indulge in. |
† 4. Manner of setting down in written form; spelling, orthography.
Obs.| 1521 A. Barclay Introd. A v b, Whiche is contrary bothe in the true wrytynge, & also to the true pronuncyacion of perfyte frenche. 1582 [see writing-master]. c 1620 A. Hume Brit. Tongue (1865) 1, I..seeing sik uncertentie in our men's wryting, as if a man wald indyte one letter to tuentie of our best wryteres, nae tuae..wald agree. 1636 B. Jonson Eng. Gram. iii, The unsteadfastness of our tongue, or incertainty of our writing. 1728 Chambers Cycl. (1738) s.v. Orthography, Attempts have been since made to reduce the writing to the pronunciation. |
5. The state or condition of having been written or penned; written form. Freq.
in writing.
See
commit v. 1 e,
put v.
1 16 b,
reduce v. 15 b.
| 1425 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 268/2 Yeving in a Peedegree in writyng. 1462 Paston Lett. II. 122 Let them..send ther excuse to me in wrytyng. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. Pref. 2 Thei..commit to wrytinge, stories. 1611 Cotgr., Mettre par escrit, to..set downe in, commit vnto, writing. 1657 tr. Perkins' Profit. Bk. vii. 179 Another will..by him put in writing. 1753 Act 26 Geo. II, c. 19 §15 Which Examination the said Justices are hereby required to take down in Writing. 1831 Palgrave Hist. Anglo-Saxons vii. 151 Many matters now consigned to writing. Ibid. 152 Some little was reduced into writing. 1887 Birrell Obiter Dicta Ser. ii. 42 The author's agreement..is in writing. |
II. 6. That which is in a written (now also typewritten) state or form; something penned or recorded; written information, composition, or production; literary work or compilation.
† the Writing or
Sacred Writing (
quots. 1340, 1797), Scripture. Phr.
the writing on the wall (with allusion to
Daniel v. 5 and 25–28): warning signs of impending disaster, misfortune, etc.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 4671 Seynt Ysodre seyþ yn hys wrytyng, ‘Alle þo’ [etc.]. 1340 Ayenb. 71 Zuyche byeþ þo ȝonges of helle ase þe writinge ous telþ. 1382 Wyclif Dan. v. 7 Who euere shal reede this wrytyng. c 1444 Pecock Donet 156 Alle suche men..I remitte into þe writing and witnessing of seynt Austyn. 1451 Paston Lett. I. 208 The Shereffe..hath writyng from the Kyng that he shall make such a panell. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. lxvi. (1811) 45 That sayinge disagreeth to the wrytynge of Eutropius. 1537 Coventry Leet Bk. 726 Which was latelie surrendered & given vpp by wrytyng to theme. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. ii. vii. 64 A carrion death, Within whose emptie eye there is a written scroule; Ile reade the writing. 1611 Bible 1 Esdras ii. 2 He made proclamation..by writing. 1797 Monthly Mag. III. 529/1 A passage in sacred writing, where the Philistines..sent back the ark of God. 1808 W. Selwyn Law Nisi Prius II. 755 Neither the 4th nor 17th sections of this statute require, that the agent should be authorized by writing. 1837 Lockhart Scott xxvii. (1845) 256/1 He pointed out to me this hand which, like the writing on Belshazzar's wall, disturbed his hour of hilarity. 1887 Cornh. Mag. Jan. 65 The laundress..denied all knowledge of the type-writer or the writing. |
| allusively. ? 1720 Swift Poet. Wks. (1736) 93 A baited Banker thus desponds, From his own Hand foresees his Fall; They have his Soul who have his Bonds; 'Tis like the Writing on the Wall. 1884 Rider Haggard Dawn xxii, Cut it down, and you will have no more writing upon your wall. 1906 (title) The writing on the wall. 1949 E. Coxhead Wind in West viii. 211 Just try to see the thing with..your famous detachment, and you'll soon recognise the writing on the wall. You've had your fling. 1965 Listener 2 Dec. 925/3 The 'eighties and 'nineties were the Golden Age [of music hall]; and in 1905 the writing was on the wall... Musical comedy, the cinema, television all hastened the decline. 1978 Lancashire Life Mar. 50/1, I was a fool not to see the writing on the wall when textile machinery manufacturers were rushing all over the world erecting spinning and weaving machinery. |
| transf. 1894 H. Drummond Ascent Man 427 Nature is God's writing, and can only tell the truth. |
7. a. A written composition;
freq. pl., the work or works of an author or group of authors; literary productions.
In frequent use from
c 1560.
| 1340 Ayenb. 46 Þis boc is more ymad uor þe leawede, þanne uor þe clerkes þet conneþ þe writinges. 1382 Wyclif 2 Macc. ii. 1 It is founden in dyscryuyngis, or wrytyngis, of Jeremye, the prophete. c 1449 Pecock Repr. i. xv. 81 Holi Writt in this wise takun, is not holier neither better than eny other writing is. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 38 That suche wrytynges be approued by..discrete goostly fathers. 1638 Junius Paint. Ancients 105 Famous men have studied to illustrate these Arts..by their writings and disputations. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 4 ¶8 The present Writing is only to admonish the World. a 1720 Sewel Hist. Quakers (1722) Pref., The said Bishop..hath obtained such an high Esteem by his Writings. 1818 Shelley Julian & M. 340 If this sad writing thou shouldst ever see. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vi. II. 108 The writings of the fathers. 1859 Jephson Brittany xiv. 233 A writing to the effect that..it [sc. a museum] was closed altogether. |
b. the (sacred or holy) writings, the Scriptures. Also
spec. = Hagiographa n. pl.| 1340 Ayenb. 13 Þanne þridde day.., uor to uoluelle þe writinges, he aros uram dyaþe to liue. a 1653 Binning Wks. (1735) 20/2 The Hand of God must first write on their Heart, ere they understand the Writings of the Scriptures. 1663 Bp. Patrick Parab. Pilgr. (1687) 327 The truth of the holy Writings. 1711 Felton Dissert. Classics (1718) 94 The Sacred Writings, even in our Translation, preserve their Majesty. 1837 Penny Cycl. IX. 438/1 Mention is made of the use of signets in the sacred writings. a 1909 [N.E.D., in note s.v. Prophet sb. 3]. 1941 R. H. Pfeiffer Introd. to O.T. (ed. 5) iv. 61 The third division of the Hebrew Bible, following the Law and the Prophets, is simply called the ‘Writings’ (Hebrew, Ketûbîm) or ‘Hagiographa’ (sacred writings), because it consists of a miscellany of independent books. 1976 Church Times 30 Jan. 6/1 He begins with Ecclesiastes and some of the other books from the Writings—namely, Proverbs, Job and the Psalms. |
c. A musical composition.
| 1789 Burney Hist. Mus. III. 197 It appears from the writings of this..exquisite harmonist, that he had..studied the greatest masters of his own time. |
8. a. A written document, note, etc.; a letter or missive.
| 1456 Paston Lett. Suppl. (1901) 58 All though my wrytyngges put yow many tymes to gret labour. 1513 Q. Cath. in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. I. 90 Came a Post from my lord Howard with a writing at length of every thing as it was. 1555 Instit. Gentl. L v, Y⊇ childe brought the same wryghting to the handes of Mertia. 1629 Hobbes Thucyd. (1822) 256 These were the contents of the writing. 1653 Milton Hirelings Wks. 1851 V. 353 Without another clear and express Donation, wherof they shew no Evidence or Writing. 1890 R. B. Girdlestone Found. Bible 21 There are frequent references in the Book of Ezra to writings, such as proclamations, genealogies, decrees, letters, copies. |
b. A written paper or instrument, having force in law; a deed, bond agreement, or the like; a document relative to a marriage contract or settlement.
In very frequent use from
c 1500.
| 1448 J. Shillingford Lett. (Camden) 66 If any suche writyng were knowe and proved by my seide Lorde and the other arbitrous. c 1450 Godstow Reg. 530 Into witnesse they put to theire seales, euerych to others writyng. 1520 in Glasscock Rec. St. Michael's, Bp.'s Stortford (1882) 37 P[ai]d for makyng the wrytynges bytwene the parisshe and the bel⁓founder. 1592–3 in Barfield Thatcham (1901) II. 103 Pd. for two locks for the chest wher the wrightings are kept. 1631 Heywood Fair Maid of West iii. i. 40 These writings are the evidence of Lands. 1668 Sedley Mulberry Gard. ii. ii. 27 You do not lay the necessity of marrying Home enough to her:..our Counsel [might] Have been drawing the Writings. 1710 Steele Tatler No. 231 ¶2 The Lawyers finished the Writings (in which..there was no Pin-Money) and they were married. 1754 J. Shebbeare Matrimony (1766) I. 71 Perhaps your Lordship's Writings [= property-deeds] are in the Hands of those two Fellows. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) I. 235 The Court ordered all deeds and writings..to be delivered up. 1840 Thackeray Shabby-genteel Story ix, No writings at all were made, and the ceremony merely read through. 1893 Sir J. W. Chitty in Law Times Rep. LXVIII. 430/1 The statute..requires a deed in cases where formerly a mere writing would have sufficed. |
† c. A writ
of divorce, etc.
Obs. rare.
| 1382 Wyclif Col. ii. 14 Doynge awey that wryting of decree, or dom, that was aȝens ȝou. 1568 Bible (Bishop's) Matt. v. 31 Whosoeuer putteth away his wyfe, let hym geue her a wrytyng of diuorcement. |
9. Wording or lettering scored, engraved, or impressed on a surface; an inscription.
| 1382 Wyclif Exod. xxxii. 16 The wrytyng forsothe of God was grauen in the tables. 1387 Trevisa Higden VII. 149 His epithaphy—þat is, writynge on his grave. 1388 Wyclif Mark xii. 16 Brynge ȝe to me a peny... Whos is this ymage, and the writyng? 1471 Caxton Recuyell (Sommer) 397 He shewid the wrytyng that that other ymage helde. 1530 Palsgr. 675/1 There was a writynge upon his grave, but the weather hath put it out. 1560 Bible (Genev.) Ecclus. xlv. 11 Precious stones.. set in golde..with a writing grauen after the nomber of the tribes of Israel. 1611 Bible Exod. xxxix. 30 They made the plate..of pure gold, and wrote vpon it a writing, like to the engrauings of a signet. 1623 Cockeram ii, Writings on Tombes, epitaphes. 1706 [see write v. 20]. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XVIII. 917/1 The most ancient remains of writing..are upon hard substances, such as stones and metals. |
10. Words, letters, etc., embodied in written (or typewritten) form; written lettering.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 9294 He so moche sorow hadde, As hys wrytyng was alle to-fade. 1728 Chambers Cycl. (1738) s.v., J. Ravenau..shews how to revive, and restore old writings almost effaced. 1787 Phil. Trans. LXXVII. 451 A new Method of recovering the Legibility of decayed Writings. 1834 Dickens Sk. Boz, Boarding-ho. ii, The writing looked like a skein of thread in a tangle. 1884 Knight Dict. Mech. Suppl. 957 For restoring faded writing. Brush it over with a solution of ammonium sulphide. 1899 Wardle Univ. Typewriter Man. 14 Regulating the width between the lines of writing. |
11. Printing. (See
news n. 5 b.)
III. attrib. and
Comb. 12. a. Simple
attrib., as
writing chair,
writing course,
writing day,
writing exercise,
† writing glove,
writing hand,
writing lesson,
writing night,
writing-speed,
writing-system,
writing terms,
writing-time.
| 1483 Cath. Angl. 425/2 A wrytynge chare. 1582 Mulcaster Elementarie (1925) 255 The platting of this my writing course. 1663 Wood Life (O.H.S.) I. 501 A pair of writing gloves, 1s. 1675 Marvell Corr. Wks. (Grosart) II. 450 Having been always on writing nights in an hurry. 1768 Goldsm. Good-n. Man Epilogue, My writing days are over. 1788 Cowper Wks. (1837) XV. 205 My writing-time is expended. 1805 Scott Let. in Lockhart (1837) II. ii. 44, I shall hold myself well paid on the writing hand. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop iii, Preparations for giving Kit a writing lesson. 1857 W. Collins Dead Secret iv, The two were not..on speaking, or even on writing terms. 1875 Davidson House Painting 206 What is called the Script or writing character, the most elegant of all. 1906 P. Macquoid Hist. Eng. Furnit. III. iv. 139 (caption) Mahogany writing-chair. 1946 H. P. Maynard in W. S. Knickerbocker 20th-Cent. Eng. 188 One of the most important skills is that of writing-speed. 1953 C. F. Hockett in Saporta & Bastian Psycholinguistics (1961) 58/1 In devising a writing-system one can..eliminate a symbol needed earlier. 1979 Country Life 14 June 1910/3 Corner chair appears to be the usual description nowadays: they used to be known as writing chairs. 1980 English World-Wide I. i. 20 Almost all Native American writing systems developed..for bilingual education purposes utilize writing systems similar to English. |
b. In sense ‘used for writing with’, as
writing apparatus,
writing-brush,
writing cane,
writing fluid,
writing implement,
writing tool,
writing wire, etc. Also writing-ink, -pen.
Cf. OE. wr{iacu}ting-feþer ‘a pen’.
| 1585 Higins Junius' Nomencl. 7/2 Graphium, a writing wyer. 1606 Holland Sueton. 261 The sharp point of a bodkin or writing steele. 1800 M. Koops Hist. Acc. Inv. Paper 37 Charta Augusta..being too thin for the writing-cane. 1809 Malkin Gil Blas viii. vi. ¶1 That minister..made me take my writing apparatus. 1825 Scott Talism. xxi, Give him writing-tools. 1840 Patents (1869) 56 Ink or writing fluids. 1854 Dickens Hard T. ii. i. 134 Mrs. Sparsit was conscious that by coming in the evening-tide among the desks and writing implements, she shed a feminine..grace. 1866 Patents (1869) 388 Articles commonly called ‘writing’ or ‘library’ sets. 1873 W. Stokes Rapid Writing 78 The formidable iron Writing implement bearing the name of Style. 1921 H. E. Palmer Princ. Language-Study vii. 85 Suppose we wish to make Chinese characters with a native writing-brush. 1978 China Now Mar./Apr. 34/3 The following suggested items can be obtained from shops which cater for local Chinese communities: wok (a deep frying pan), abacus, Chinese writing brush. |
c. In names of devices for performing or executing writing, as
writing automaton,
writing-ball,
† writing engine,
writing machine,
writing telegraph.
| 1695 Athenian Merc. 9 April, The Writing Engine, for taking several Copies of the same thing at once. 1705 J. Dunton Life & Errors 239 [Ridpath] invented The Polygraphy, or Writing Engin. 1799 Patents (1869) 8 A certain..writing and drawing machine. 1819 Ibid. 21 A machine..which I denominate the penographic or writing instrument. 1868 Chambers's Jrnl. 136/2 [A] Writing-machine for the Blind. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2823/2 Writing-telegraph, one which sends autographic messages. 1888 Cassell's Encycl. Dict., Writing-ball, an electric printing apparatus. 1904 Standen & Taylor Typing i, Manipulating the writing machine [= typewriter]. |
d. In sense ‘used or designed for writing upon’, as
writing cloth,
writing material,
writing slate,
writing surface. Also
writing-book, -paper.
| 1800 M. Koops Hist. Acc. Inv. Paper 33 These writing-materials were not in general use. 1809 R. Langford Introd. Trade 63, 2 [Reams] Writing Royal. 1851 Catal. Gt. Exhib. 540 Dowse's patent tracing and writing cloth. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2477/2 Table, a tablet..[or] writing-surface. 1888 Burgon 12 Good Men II. v. 36 To get out his writing materials, and to scribble. |
e. In sense ‘forming a support or surface for writing on’, as
writing ledge,
writing slope. Also
writing-board, -desk, -table 3.
| 1855 Patents (1869) 179 [The cover] which forms the continuation of the writing slope. 1902 How to Make Things 53/1 The construction of the writing ledge. |
f. In sense ‘engaged for or employed in writing’, as
writing class,
writing clerk,
writing hand.
| 1772 J. Wedgwood Let. 28 Sept. (1965) 136 What were all the rest of the Writing Clerks doing not to observe this. 1815 Scott Antiq. vi, My lawyer['s]..writing-clerk (habited as a sharp-shooter) walked to and fro before his door. 1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 2867, Saving the cost of a writing clerk. 1896 Harper's Mag. XCIII. 17 If he ever puts me into one of his books I'll..amputate his writing-hand. 1899 Crockett Kit Kennedy 79 The writing-classes joggled each others' arms and elbows. |
g. With
advs., as
writing-off,
writing-out. (
Cf. 3 d.)
| 1901 Westm. Gaz. 28 June 11/1 Its sister in misfortune.. dare not face the writing-off stage yet. 1904 Ibid. 9 Feb. 4/2 The ‘writing-out’ process from which most popular authors suffer. |
13. Special
Combs.:
writing bed, a board or level surface for writing on;
writing block, (
a) [
block n. 10 c], a pad of writing-paper; (
b) [
block n. 19 e]
= writer's block s.v. writer 3;
writing booth,
† (
a)
Sc. a writing-chamber; (
b) a booth or stall where writing is transacted;
writing cabinet, an article of furniture in which a writing-desk is combined with drawers, shelves, and other facilities for writing;
writing-case, a portable case for holding writing requisites, and providing a desk or surface to write upon; also
Comb.;
writing centre, a physical centre which controls the action of writing;
writing-chamber, a room or chamber where writing is transacted;
freq. pl., a lawyer's offices;
writing diamond = diamond n. 4;
† writing dust = writing sand;
writing-frame, a frame with guides designed to help the blind in writing;
writing hand, the peculiar position assumed by the hand in shaking palsy (
Syd. Soc. Lex.);
† writing house, a writing-chamber;
writing-pad, (
a) a blotter serving as a surface for writing on, sometimes (
quot. 1895) furnished with writing materials, etc.; (
b) a pad (
pad n.3 4) of notepaper;
writing-room, a writing-chamber;
† writing-sand, a kind of sand used to dry wet ink after writing;
writing slider (see
quot. 1969);
writing speed, (
a)
Electronics, the maximum speed at which the electron beam can scan the screen of a cathode-ray tube and its path still be recorded by the excitation of phosphors or on photographic film; (
b) the effective speed of videotape past a head when the rotation of the head is taken into account;
† writing-standish = standish;
† writing type, script type.
| 1911 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 14 Apr. 3/5 (Advt.), Writing Desks. Just the thing for the home, nicely finished in Imperial Golden Oak, large *writing bed with enclosed pigeon holes for papers. 1971 New Yorker 8 May 3 Open, it's a sewing table. Closed, it's a writing bed..a fine mahogany Sheraton. |
| 1913 ‘S. Rohmer’ Mystery of Dr Fu-Manchu xxix. 294 For this dreary vigil I had come prepared with a bunch of rough notes, a *writing-block, and a fountain pen. 1950 E. Bergler Writer & Psychoanal. p. ix, They came with only one purpose in mind—to be cured of their ‘writing block’ (a euphemism for sterility of productivity). 1977 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 15 Sept. 36/3 This connection would also help to explain Darwin's long delay in publishing his theory (certainly he had no ‘writing block’). 1983 T. Allbeury Pay Any Price xvii. 179 As Randall sat down the consultant took out a pen and reached for a writing block. |
| 1597 Extr. Aberdeen Reg. (1848) II. 121 Ane hous..to be ane *vreting buyth to..thair servitour and clerk. 1609 in Hist. Writers to Signet (1890) p. xlvii, All wrytteris to the signet are..bothe..in the streittis and in thair wreitting boathe, to wear..a gowne. 1898 Wide World Mag. July 448 Public writing booths in Barcelona. |
| 1851 Catal. Gt. Exhib. 758 Monocleid *writing cabinet... The whole of the drawers, closets, and partitions may be opened by one lock. |
| 1813 M. Edgeworth Let. 19 Apr. (1971) 25 Mrs. Sneyd and Emma have given me a most convenient red morocco *writing case. 1853 Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.) 253 He drew from a little writing-case..some paper, a cut cane, and an ink-horn. 1858 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. vii. iv. ad fin., Crown-Prince has given him in keeping a writing-case with private letters. |
| 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VII. 655 If the tumour should happen to produce complete destruction of the auditory nerve-centre..or the *writing centre. |
| 1618 in Hist. Writers to Signet (1890) p. xliii, The *wryting chalmer of Adame Lawtie. 1708 J. Spottiswoode Introd. Stile Pref., I did draw out of my Collections I had made, while in a Writing-Chamber,..such [etc.]. 1875 Scrivener Lect. Text N. Test. 4 In the scriptorium or writing-chamber of their convents. |
| 1827 Faraday Chem. Manip. iii. 71 Fragments of diamond..set in handles..are called scratching or *writing diamonds. |
| 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 69 The shining or glassie powder..usually implyed in *writing dust. |
| 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2823 *Writing-frames for the blind. |
| 1597 Extr. Aberdeen Reg. (1848) II. 153 The *wreitting hous for the clerk of this burght. 1598 Florio, Scrittoio,..a counting house or writing house. |
| 1865 *Writing-pad [see pad n.3 4]. 1895 Army & Navy Co-op Soc. Price List 598 The ‘York’ Knee Writing pad. Contains Safety Ink, Scissors, Paper Knife,..pockets filled with Note Paper and Envelopes [etc.]. 1906 E. Johnston Writing & Illuminating ii. 50 Under the writing-paper there should be a ‘writing-pad’, consisting of one or two sheets of blotting-paper. 1917 Harrods General Catal. 297/2 Harrods Writing Pads. 100 Sheets. No. 1. Large 8vo., Thick Cream Wove, Plain, 8 × 5. O/6. 1972 ‘W. Haggard’ Protectors i. 3 Scobell had risen behind his desk. There was a writing-pad on it, a pen—nothing more. |
| 1825 Fosbroke Encycl. Antiq. 108 Monasteries had..Museums, Scriptoria, or *writing-rooms. 1850 Thackeray Pendennis i, The adjoining writing-room. |
| 1750 Heath Acc. Scilly 57 [A bay] where the Beach..is covered with an exceeding fine *Writing Sand. 1803 Hatchett in Phil. Trans. XCIII. 174 Fine white writing-sand. |
| 1803 T. Sheraton Cabinet Dict. 261 The top drawer [of a lobby chest] is usually divided into two; and sometimes there is a *writing slider which draws out under the top. 1969 J. Gloag Short Dict. Furnit. (rev. ed.) 731 Writing slider, a sliding shelf, made to draw out beneath the top of a chest of drawers. |
| 1933 R. A. W. Watt et al. Applic. Cathode Ray Oscillograph ii. 37 This statement should not..be read as indicating the limiting ‘*writing speed’ of the oscillograph used. 1954 Lewis & Wells Millimicrosecond Pulse Techniques vi. 196 A small spot size is required in order that the deflection sensitivity [of the cathode ray tube] may be high, but if the size is reduced too much there will not be sufficient brightness to give the necessary writing speed. 1981 I. Hickman Oscilloscopes vii. 95 Writing speed is defined as the maximum speed at which a spot, passing once across the tube face, can be photographed under specified conditions. 1983 E. Trundle Beginner's Guide Videocassette Recorders i. 3 This was simply the idea of moving the record or replay heads rapidly over the surface of a slowly-moving tape to achieve the necessary high ‘writing’ speed. 1984 What Video? Aug. 24/1 The soundtrack was being recorded at a writing speed of 580 cm per second—that's over 15 times the speed of professional studio recordings. |
| 1773 Boswell Let. to Johnson 2 Dec. in Life, You may..have a little *writing-standish made of it. |
| 1815 J. Scott Vis. Paris 313 *Writing types,..a kind of letter..much used in France. |
▪ II. writing, ppl. a. (
ˈraɪtɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing2.] That writes; engaged in, addicted to, writing.
| 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. i. ii. 44 What names the writing person hath here writ. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. III. 246 A Rank superiour to the Writing Worthys. 1728 Ramsay General Mistake 181 To be a wirrykow to writing fools. 1848 Dickens Dombey xxiv, Do you take any interest in writing people? 1893 Athenæum 24 June 802/3 A great mistake,..to which one writing architect at least is liable. |