scrivener

From Middle English scryvener, alteration of scryveyn, from Anglo-Norman scrivein (“professional penman, copyist”), from Old French escrivain, from Vulgar Latin *scriba, *scribanem, from Latin scriba, from scrībō (“I write”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈskɹɪvnə(ɹ)/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈskɹɪvənəɹ/

scrivener (plural scriveners)

1. A professional writer; one whose occupation is to draw contracts or prepare writings.
   • c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene vi]:

     Scrivener (enters with a paper in hand):Here is the indictment of the good Lord Hastings,
     Which in a set hand fairly in engrossed
     That is may be today read o'er in Paul's.
     And mark how well the sequel hangs together:
     Eleven hours I have spent to write it over […]

2. (obsolete) One whose business is to place money at interest; a broker.

• amanuensis
• scribe
• tabellion

• notary

• “scrivener”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “scrivener”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.