scripture

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

Scripture’s story begins in Latin: scribere meant “to write.” The root of 'scribe', 'script' and 'describe'. Within Latin, it grew into scriptura by ancient. A writing, especially sacred writing, from scribere. From there it passed into Old French as escriture by medieval. Carried into French for sacred written texts. It reached English by 1300s as scripture. Settled as the English word for sacred religious writings. Today, scripture means the sacred writings of a religion, especially the Christian Bible.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient scribere "to write", the root of 'scribe', 'script' and 'describe'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient scriptura "a writing, especially sacred writing", a writing, especially sacred writing, from scribere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval escriture "sacred written texts", carried into French for sacred written texts.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s scripture "sacred religious writings", settled as the English word for sacred religious writings.