script

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

Script’s story begins in Latin: scribere meant “to write.” The root of 'scribe', 'scripture' and 'describe'. Within Latin, it grew into scriptum by ancient. Something written, from scribere. From there it passed into Old French as escript by medieval. Carried into French for a written document. It reached English by 1300s as script. Settled as the English word for a piece of writing; its use for the text of a play or film came much later. Today, script means the written text of a play, film, or broadcast, or a style of handwriting.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient scribere "to write", the root of 'scribe', 'scripture' and 'describe'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient scriptum "something written", something written, from scribere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval escript "a written document", carried into French for a written document.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s script "a piece of writing, especially the text of a play or film", settled as the English word for a piece of writing; its use for the text of a play or film came much later.