n. 1. A public clerk or secretary, especially in ancient times. 2. A professional copyist of manuscripts and documents. 3. A writer or journalist. 4. See scriber. v. scribed, scrib·ing, scribes v.tr. 1. To mark with a scriber. 2. To write or inscribe. v.intr. To work as a scribe. [Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin scrība, from Latin, keeper of accounts, secretary, from scrībere, to write; see skrībh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] scribal adj. |
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