Middle English Dictionary Entry
scrībe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | scrībe n. Pl. scrībes, (early Latinate) scrībe. |
| Etymology | L scrība & OF scribe. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. scrivein n.
1.
(a) A professional interpreter of the Jewish Law; also, an Egyptian religious writer [quot.: ?a1475]; (b) a public official who deals with writing or accounts, a clerk; also fig.; (c) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)7215 : Teȝȝ..Wærenn Scribe ȝehatenn, Forrþi þatt teȝȝre wikenn wass To writenn laȝhebokess, & ec to spellenn to þe follc Off laȝhess & off lakess.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.5.20 : No but ȝif ȝoure riȝtwisnesse shal be more plenteuouse than of scribis and Pharisees, ȝee shulen not entre in to kyngdam of heuenes.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.305 : The Scribe and ek the Pharisee Of Moises upon the See In the chaiere on hyh ben set.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.492 : Þis sarasenes, scribes, & Iuwes Han a lippe of owre byleue.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.27 : 'Who shal iuste with ihesus,' quod I, 'iuwes or scribes?'
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)134/4 : Þanne þe Iewis maden faire þe toumbis of þise prophetis as were scribis & pharisees.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6893 : 'Uppon the chaire of moyses..Sitte Scribes and pharisen,' That is to seyn, the cursid men Whiche that we ypocritis calle.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)62/4 : Doctours of þe lawe and þe scribys with her scripturis and prophecies were euermore present in þe cite.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.317 : A scribe [Trev.: oon þat was a writere of holy lettres; L scriba sacrorum], hauenge prenostication of thynges to comme, schewede to kynge Pharao oon child to comme of men of Hebrewe that scholde make Egipte meke.
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cl : Aȝeyne Crist was gret crie of þe cursed Jewes & of scribes & of prestis & of pharesees: 'crucifige!'
- a1500 Truth it (Cnt Add 68)p.71 : Alle principalle prestys he dede present And scribys of the pepyl.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)4 Kings 18.18 : Eliachym, þe sone of elchie, prouost of þe hous, wente out to hem, & Sobna, scribe, & Jeache, þe sone of Asaf, chaunceleer.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Jer.36.23 : Whan Judi hadde rad þre litle pagentis or foure, he cutte it with a scraping knyf of þe scribe & þrew it in to þe fijr.
- (1435) *Anc.Pet.(PRO)130.6460 : The said commissarye..comaundet his seruantz to bere a chayre to the said place accustumet in the which þe said commissarie state, in your name, with the Scribe, and the marshall of the said office.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)4926 : She hym preyid wyth ful humble entent That to theophyl þe scrybe he yt wold bere.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)195/27 : It is necessary to thy lordis to haue a wyse scribe [Ashmole: scribe or clerk], qwyche be approuyed in chiualry, þat he take hed þat þei be noȝt corupt with no yiftis.
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)961 : The first vertue is to kepe man-is tong, For it is scribe of his discrecion.
c
- [ (1086) Domesday Bk.Exch.162 : Willelmus Scriba. ]
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)535/20 : The lond of Shillyngford..that Raaf Scribe held to ferme.