Etymology Map
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Scribe

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a person who copies documents

Where does the word "scribe" come from? It comes from Latin scriba, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
scriba
Latin · ancient
"writer, clerk"
from 'scribere', to write
2
Stage 2 of 3
scribe
Old French · medieval
"scribe"
medieval monks copied manuscripts
3
Stage 3 of 3
scribe
English · 1300s
"copyist"
'scribble' comes from the same root
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Read the full story

Scribe’s story begins in Latin: scriba meant “writer, clerk.” From 'scribere', to write. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as scribe. Medieval monks copied manuscripts. It reached English by 1300s as scribe. 'scribble' comes from the same root. Today, scribe means a person who copies documents.