Chiefly Sc. Also 5–7 wryte (5 vryte, 6 Sc. vryit, wryt), 4 wriȝt, 5 wryȝt, 6 north. wrighte; Sc. 6–7 wreit (6 vr-, ur-), 7 wreitte, 6–9 wreat, 7 wreatt, wrait, 9 wraet, vreet. [var. of WRIT sb. after WRITE v., or directly f. the latter.
Examples earlier than the 16th century are prob. mere graphic variants of writ (as sometimes shown by the rhyme), but may have helped to introduce the new form.]
† 1. That which is written; a written record or work; a writ, writing, letter, document, etc. Obs.
Latterly, and from c. 1465 to c. 1630 chiefly, Sc.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 8495 (Fairf.). Þis write wiþ many was rede and sene.
14[?]. Sir Beues (C.), 1260. Forþe he goth with þat wryte.
1466. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 214/2. Made the day of this present write be us and our counsale.
1500. Caldwell Papers (Maitl. Cl.), I. 52. We haiff subscriwit þis wryte wyth our handes.
1566. Stapleton, Ret. Untr. Jewel, IV. 32. The … Legat brought forth a write from Zosimus.
1568. T. Howell, Newe Sonets (1879), 114. Thes my triflyng toyes, and far vnconning writes.
1633. Costlie Whore, IV. ii. Let’s read these writes. What’s here? complaints against my worthy brothers.
1678. Sir G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot. (1699), 261. A Write that is null.
1705. Dalrymple, Coll. Sc. Hist., 267. I have neither seen Writes nor Chartularies, only a Copy of the Charter.
1762. in Nairne Peerage Evidence (1874), 98. His own proper writes and evidents.
† 2. a. Holy (or the) Write, = WRIT sb. 1 c.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 4845. Holy wryte swyche men holdes As wylde wulues brekyng foldes.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, v. (John), 184. Þe fyrste skil … he tuk vt of haly vryte [rhyme it].
14[?]. Arth. & Merl. 686 (Douce MS.). Þus holy wryȝt wetnessyþ hyt.
1551. Crowley, Pleas. & Pain, 537. Holy wryte teacheth you so.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 113. Thow … hes promittit in the write … Of all thair Sin to mak thame quyte.
† b. Written record; writing; = WRIT sb. 2. Chiefly Sc. Obs.
1483. in Acts Lords of Council (1918), II. p. cxxvii. Ane act of the Lordis … gevin thairupon be … actentik write and document.
1552. Lyndesay, Monarche, 5319. He hes red, in Hebrew wryte, Off fyftene signis.
a. 1553. Udall, Royster D., II. iii. (Arb.), 36. No man for despite, By worde or by write His felowe to twite.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 366. Of the quhilk … the nobillis … hard tell alsweill be wreit as be toung.
c. 1657. Sir W. Mure, Wks. (S.T.S.), II. 238. The monuments of wryte of the greatest antiquitie.
1681. Stair, Instit., I. 345. Private Ways are Constitute … by going and coming that way uninterrupted … fourty years without Write, or any other Right.
1825. Jamieson, Suppl., Write,… writing, as contrasted with verbal communication.
† 3. Law. = WRIT sb. 3 b, c. Obs.
a. 1400. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 361. Wrytes of newe disseysyne,… And wriȝt of ryȝt of dowarye.
1477. Paston Lett., III. 212. Ye must have a meen be sum wryte of trespas for them.
1489–90. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 92. Afore Easter, send upp your pardons, wrytes of dedimus.
1516. in Test. Ebor. (Surtees), VI. 2. By wright of entre.
1538. Starkey, England, I. iv. 117. He wyl by wryte remoue hys cause to the court at Westmynstur.
1550. Crowley, Epigr., 249. A Baylife … serued with one wryte an whole score or tweyne.
4. Sc. = WRIT sb. 4. Only in phr. in write.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), III. 127. The king … All his desyr in wryte syne to him send.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Stat. David II., 47. The summonds … sall be put in write.
a. 1645. Ld. Napier, Mem. (1793), 49. To set downe there … informations in wreat under there hand.
1717. Wodrow, Corr. (1843), II. 270. They behoved to set them [sc. answers] down in write.
5. a. Sc. Handwriting; manner or style of calligraphy.
Hand of write: see HAND sb. 16 b.
a. 1614. J. Melvill, Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 185. He causit wryt a copie in guid wrait.
1678. Sir G. Mackenzie, Laws Scot., II. 525. One mans write will differ from it self at several occasions.
1814. Galt’s New Brit. Theatre, I. 351. Whose write is it? not Henry’s, sure, no—yes!
1825. Jamieson, Suppl. s.v., Sma’ write, small text; Grit, Big, or Muckle write, round text.
1887. Service, Life Dr. Duguid, 190. My write being noo very crabbit.
b. Write-of-hand, the art or method of writing. dial.
1863. Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia’s L., xliii. A could wish as a’d learned write-of-hand,… for a’ve that for to tell Christopher as might set his mind at ease.
