scrivener
(ˈskrɪv(ə)nə(r))
Forms: 4 scriveyner, 4–6 skrivener, 5 skri-, scryvenere, skerevener, 5–6 scry-, skryvener, 6 skryvynar, scryvenar, -our, skrevener, 7 scrivender, scrivenor, scrivner, 5– scrivener.
[f. scrivein + -er1.
The form escrivener occurs in 1415 (York Myst. ed. 1885, Introd. p. xxvi).]
1. A professional penman; a scribe, copyist; a clerk, secretary, amanuensis.
| c 1375 in Trans. Shropsh. Archæol. Soc. Ser. iii. (1901) I. 121 Reinaldus le scriueyner. c 1402 Lydg. Compl. Bl. Knt. 194 But even-lyk as doth a skrivenere That can no more what that he shall wryte, But as his maister besyde doth endyte. 1455 in E. B. Jupp Carpenters' Co. (1887) 10 Item payd to the skerevener for the dyvyce of the ordinaunce and for þe wrytyn in pabir iijs iiij{supd}. 1530–1 Act 22 Hen. VIII, c. 13 No person or persones straungers, beyng a comon baker, bruer, surgeon or scryvenour shalbe enterpret or expounded hande craftesmen. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VII 46 Richard Scelton a tayler and Jhon Asteley a Skrevener. 1602 Rowlands Greenes Ghost 18 This fellow came into a Scriueners shop to haue a letter written to his wiues mother. a 1619 M. Fotherby Atheom. ii. i. §3 (1622) 176 The Scriuener of Nature [said of Aristotle by Suidas]. a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) I. 210 Scriveners take more Pains to learn the Slight Of making Knots, than all the Hands they write. 1829 Southey Sir T. More II. 91 A very little suffices for the stock in trade, upon which the scribes and scriveners of literature, who take upon themselves to direct the public, set up. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 19 Thereupon the scrivener throws the burden of pen-prehension upon other muscles. |
| transf. 1607 Tourneur Rev. Trag. i. iii, Thou hast beene Scriuener to much knauery then. 1806 Wolcot (P. Pindar) Tristia Wks. 1812 V. 339 Sir, let fools say, what fools think fit Trust to that upright Scrivener, call'd Time. |
| attrib. 1483 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 256/2 The third to teche to Write, and all suche thyng as belonged to Scrivener Craft. |
b. scrivener's cramp,
scrivener's palsy, writer's cramp.
| 1855 Dunglison Med. Lex., Scrivener's cramp. 1877 Encycl. Brit. VI. 543/2 The disease known as Writer's Cramp, or Scrivener's Palsy. |
† c. An author.
Obs.| a 1660 Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.) III. 90 All the politicke scriuners that euer handled such a subjecte. |
d. ‘A writing-master’ (Halliwell, 1847).
2. A notary.
| 1477–9 Rec. St. Mary at Hill 83 Item, to—masse, Scryvenere, for ouerseyng the olde endentures of the same howse. 1577 Hellowes tr. Guevara's Fam. Epist. 83 As God made you a Knight, if he had made you a Scriuener, you would haue bene more handsome to colour Cordouan skinnes, then to haue written processe. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. iv. iv. 59 My Boy shall fetch the Scriuener presentlie. 1622 Malynes Anc. Law-Merchant 100 The Bills were tendered with a Scriuener according to their agreement. 1656 H. Phillips Purch. Patt. (1676) 3 Some skilful Lawyer, and knowing Scrivener. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Scrivener, one that draws up and engrosses Writings or Deeds, as Bonds, Bills, Leases, Releases, &c. 1712 E. Cooke Voy. S. Sea 85 Notaries, Scriveners, and Clerks of the Court of Justice. 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life xxi. (1826) 296 Why what the plague? where is this scoundrel of a scrivener? what if I should die before be comes! |
| attrib. 1757 E. Griffith Henry & Frances (1766) IV. 44 Vulgar Phrases, and scrivener Id[i]oms. |
3. One who ‘received money to place out at interest, and who supplied those who wanted to raise money on security’ (Tomlins). Also
money scrivener.
Obs. exc. Hist.| 1607 Dekker & Webster Northward Hoe! ii. D 2 b, Here was a scriuener but euen now, to put my father in minde of a bond, that wilbe forfit this night. 1625 Bacon Ess., Of Riches (Arb.) 237 The Scriueners and Broakers doe valew vnsound Men. 1637 Prynne Docum. (Camden) 77 To make inquiry into the breach of the statute, that noe scrivener shoull take above 5s brokadge in the {pstlg}. 1677 A. Yarranton Eng. Improv. 8 Let a Gentleman..come to a Money Scrivener, and desire Four thousand pounds to be lent him on all his Land. a 1700 Dryden tr. Hor. Epodes ii. 5 How happy in his low Degree, Who leads a quiet Country Life, Discharg'd of Business, void of Strife, And from the griping Scrivener free? 1704–84 [see money n. 8]. 1706 Estcourt Fair Example iii. i. 28 Sir Ch. Sir, I am oblig'd to you, you shall have my Note. Fan. No, but I won't, I am no Scrivener, Sir; there's a Bill payable at sight. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) II. 207 T. Gibson and Co. being scriveners, and having large sums of money of other peoples' in their hands, had lent Mr. Stiles [etc.]. |
Hence
ˈscrivenership rare—0.
| 1611 Cotgr., Escrivainerie, Scriuenership. |