Writer

Forms: 1–5 writere, 3– writer, 6–7 wrighter, Sc. writter (6 writare, -air, 6–7 writtar, -are); 4–7 wryter, 5 -ere, -are, 5, Sc. 6 -ar, Sc. 6 wrytear, vryter, wryttar; Sc. 6 wreter, -ar, wrettar. [OE. wrítere, f. wrítan WRITE v. + -ER¹. Cf. ON. ritari writer, Sw. ritare, OHG. rizari, etc., painter (G. reisser tracer).]

  I.  1. A person who can write; one who practises or performs writing; occas., one who writes in a specified manner; = PENMAN 2. Also with advs., as down, out, up.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., liv. 423. Swa se writere, ʓif he ne dileʓað ðæt he ær wrat [etc.].

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., I. 186. Oft ʓehwa ʓesihð fæʓre stafas awritene, þonne herað he ðone writere.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., in Mod. Lang. Rev. (1914), 331. Iþench o þi writere i þine beoden sumchearre.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 24075. Es na … writer [mai] write wit pens ord, Hu þat vr stur was strang.

c. 1450.  Mirk’s Festial, I. 301. Þys monke was þe feyrest wryter þat was knowen in all þe world.

c. 1450.  Lay Folks Mass Bk. (F.), 354. Whoso wol vse this deuocioun, I pray him … Sey a pater-noster for the writere.

1529.  More, Dyaloge, xl. B j. Some fawte eyther in the translatour, or in the wryter, or nowe a dayes in the prynter.

1585.  Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 501. Eclogarius,… a gatherer or writer down of such things in a summarie.

1639.  S. Du Verger, trans. Camus’ Admir. Events, 145. This disease, much resembling that of writers, to wit, the itch of the fingers ends.

1727.  Bailey (vol. II.), Transcriber,… a Writer out, or Copier.

1850.  Grote, Greece, II. lxvi. (1862), VI. 15. His duty of Anagrapheus or ‘Writer-up’ of all the old laws of Athens.

1888.  F. Hume, Mme. Midas, I. ii. Wishing his long fingers were round the writer’s throat.

  b.  One who paints words, etc.; a sign-writer.

1837.  Whittock, Bk. Trades (1842), 360. The Sign Painter, however, or writer, is a journeyman or master solus.

1861.  Internat. Exhib., Lists Trades U. K., 80. Writers and Gilders on Glass.

1871.  Callingham, Sign Writing, 98. In order to imitate raised letters … the young writer should kave some idea of … the elements of linear perspective.

  c.  Writer’s cramp (palsy, paralysis), a form of cramp or spasm affecting certain muscles of the hand and fingers essential to writing, and resulting from excessive use of these.

1853.  Sieveking, trans. Romberg’s Nerv. Diseases, I. 320. A peculiar form of local spasm in these parts has … recently been made known under the name of the Writer’s Cramp.

1853.  W. J. Little, Deform. Hum. Frame, 184. running head, Writer’s Cramp.

1885.  H. A. Reeves, Bodily Deformities, 351. Writer’s or Scrivener’s Palsy.

1888.  Cassell’s Encycl. Dict., Scrivener’s palsy,… a spasm or cramp…, called also Writer’s Paralysis.

  2.  One whose business or occupation consists in writing; a functionary, officer, etc., who performs clerical or secretarial duties; a scribe, clerk or law-writer.

  Ship’s writer: see SHIP sb.¹ 9 c.

c. 890.  Wærferth, trans. Gregory’s Dial., 52. [He] wæs writere [L. notarius] in þissere halʓan Romane cyrican.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., Pref. Siððan min on Englisc Ælfred kyning awende worda ʓehwelc, & me his writerum sende suð & norð.

1382.  Wyclif, Ezek. ix. 2. O man … with … an ynkhorn of a wryter [L. scriptoris] in þis reynes.

c. 1450.  Godstow Register, 141. Walter scriptor oþerwise writer of þe abbei of Gloucetur. Ibid. Scriptor or wryter.

1463.  Bury Wills (Camden), 42. I beqwethe to … John Elys, wrytere,… a gowune of blak.

1526.  Reg. Privy Seal Scotl., I. 512. Makand him directour of the chancellary … with power … to make deputis, clerkis, wrytaris.

1607.  Cowell, s.v., Writer of the talies … is an officer in the Exchequer.

1660.  Boyle, New Exp. Phys. Mech., p. vii. A very unskilful Writer (whom I was often times by haste reduc’d … to imploy).

1708.  J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., 586. Writer and Embellisher of the Queen’s Letters to the Eastern Princes. Ibid., 734. William Douglass…, Writer to the Privy Seal.

1755.  Magens, Insurances, II. 239. The Writer, or the Person who officiates in his Place, is carefully to note the Circumstances of the Danger.

1853.  Dickens, Bleak Ho., x. This [affidavit] was given out, sir, to a Writer.

1873.  W. Stokes, Rapid Writing, 104. Ready Writers, or persons prepared to write at a moment’s notice.

  † b.  Jewish Hist. = SCRIBE sb.¹ 1. Obs.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hept. (1922), 46/1. Esdras se writere awrat ane boc.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. ii. 4. Þa ʓegaderode herodes ealle … þæra … folces writeras.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden, III. 247. Esdras, the writere, come doun wiþ þe kynges lettres.

1388.  Wyclif, Jer. xxxvi. 32. Jeremye … ȝaf it to Baruc, the writer.

  c.  Sc. Writer to († of) the Signet (abbrev. W.S.), originally, a clerk in the Secretary of State’s office, who prepared writs to pass the royal signet; in later use, one of an ancient society of law-agents who conduct cases before the Court of Session, and have the exclusive privilege of preparing crown writs, charters, precepts, etc.

1488.  Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scotl., I. 89. Item, to the writaris of the singnet, at the Kingis commande, ij vnicornis, xxxvj s.

1585.  Sc. Acts (1814), III. 377. That the secretair admonishe all his deputis and writtairis to the signet That [etc.].

1672.  [see WRIT sb. 3].

1708.  J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., 501. There is at present about One hundred ordinary Writers to the Signet. Ibid., 734. Writers to the Queen’s Signet.

1789.  Burns, Lett. to Ainslie, 6 Jan. I do not know if passing a ‘writer to the signet’ be a trial of scientific merit.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xiii. III. 252. The College of Justice, a … society composed of judges, advocates, writers to the signet, and solicitors.

1881.  Daily News, 29 Dec., 2/1. A writer to the signet … is the highest grade and finest flower of the profession of solicitor, as practised in Scotland.

  ellipt.  1594.  in Hist. Writers to Signet (1890), 230. Quhatsumevir writtare obeyis nocht his lordschipis depute keipare of the signet. Ibid. (1695), p. xliv. Ane convenient house, where … the wryters may meet upon all occasions.

1837.  Lockhart, Scott, v. (1845), 36/2. In the discharge of his functions as a Writer’s Apprentice.

  d.  Sc. An attorney or law-agent; an ordinary legal practitioner in country towns; a law-clerk.

1540.  Sc. Acts (1814), II. 359. Except þame þat ar writtaris notaris and scribis in our souerane lordis courtis of Justice.

1565–6.  Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 417. We haif subscrivit thir presentis … befoir thir witnessis, Alexander Hay, writtar, [and] Williame Dowglas.

c. 1610.  Sir J. Melvil, Mem. (Bann. Cl.), 324. He maid the haill subiectis to trimble vnder him,… vexing the haill wreters and lawers to mak sur his giftis and conkissis.

1658.  J. Nicoll, Diary (Bann. Cl.), 210. A long call … maid be the Judges of the Court of Sessioun, and of the laweiris, clerkis, and writeris.

1773.  R. Fergusson, Rising of the Session, i. Tir’d o’ the law,… The wylie writers … Hurl frae the town in hackney chaises.

1826.  Galt, Last of Lairds, xxv. 216. The fees both of advocate and writer.

1888.  D. Grant, Sc. Stories, 153. He had put him into the office of a ‘writer’ in the county town.

  e.  A clerk in the service of the former East India Company. Now Hist.

1676.  in Wheeler, Madras (1861), 64. Some of the Writers … by their lives are not a little scandalous.

1747.  in Yule & Burnell, Anglo-Ind. Gloss. (1886), 742/2. Mr. Robert Clive, Writer in the Service, being of a Martial Disposition.

1775.  Caraccioli, Life Clive, I. 14. Mr. Clive … had served the East India company seven years, as a writer.

1809.  Cobbett’s Weekly Pol. Reg., 22 April, 578. These Writers are clerks, sent out to India,… where they collect taxes from the people.

1891.  Kipling, Life’s Handicap, 345. Writer to the Most Honourable the East India Company.

  3.  One who writes, compiles or produces a literary composition; the composer of a book or treatise; a literary man or author; = PENMAN 3, 3 b. Also with on († of) or upon (a subject).

  In very frequent use from c. 1560. Also book-, comedy-, essay-, history-, letter-, news-, pamphlet-, play-, prose-, story-, tragedy-writer, etc.: see these words.

c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xviii. § 3. Hu ne forealdodon þa ʓewritu þeah & losodon þonecan þe hit wære, swa some swa þa writeras dydon.

c. 1055.  Byrhtferth’s Handboc, in Anglia, VIII. 327. Nu toʓeare þa Brihtferð writere þis awrat synd feowertyne epactas.

a. 1200.  St. Marher., 2. Ant ich biȝet hit iwriten of þe writere þa, al hire passiun.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 856. Philistiones flites, & Platunes bokes; & alle þeos writeres writes þet ȝe wreoðieð ow on.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 21196. Lucas was … O þe apostols dedis writer.

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 90. Many an other writere … the bokes wise Translateden.

c. 1410.  Love, Bonavent. Mirr. (1908), 8. As it semeth to the writere here of most spedeful and edifienge to hem.

1538.  Starkey, England, 137. Prouysyon to stoppe folysch wrytarys and lyght bokys of the gospel.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Apol. Poetry (Arb.), 27. Such were … Moses and Debora in theyr Hymnes, and the writer of Iob.

c. 1611.  [see WRITEE].

1660.  Stanley, Hist. Philos., XIII. (1687), 841/2. A great Writer,… and exceeding for multitude of Books.

1728.  Chambers, Cycl. (1738), s.v. Music, The most antient writer of [= on] musick … was Lasus Hermionensis.

1752.  A. Murphy, Gray’s-Inn Jrnl., No. 5. A cold, trifling, frothy Writer.

1834.  Dickens, Sk. Boz, Hor. Sparkins. A writer of fashionable novels.

1861.  Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., xv. 219. It has been remarked by writers on our Constitutional History.

1886.  C. E. Pascoe, Lond. of To-day, xl. (ed. 3), 334. Women dress for each other, says one writer.

  b.  One who is writing. The (present) writer, the writer hereof.

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 4. I the wrettar that dois considdar weill The sindrie myndis of men.

1623.  Jobson, Golden Trade, 8. In this shippe it pleased them to imploy mee the present wrighter.

1784.  Cowper, Table-t., IV. 18. Tears … trickled down the writer’s cheeks Fast as the periods from his fluent quill.

1857.  W. C. Stewart, Pract. Angler, vii. (ed. 3), 139. A brother of the writer made the same trial with the same result.

1895.  Arber, Sk. Marprel. Controv., 193. The present Writer’s belief on this subject.

  c.  A composer of music.

1688.  T. Salmon, Prop. Perform Music, 19. That the Writers of Musick may more certainly know where to fix their Flats and Sharps.

1782.  Burney, Hist. Mus., II. 567. Written Discant, which is … practised in Italy, by all writers for the Church.

1889.  Ruskin, Præterita, III. iv. 161. [Corelli] the simplest and purest writer of Italian melody.

  d.  Writer-up: see WRITE v. 18.

1841.  Tait’s Mag., VIII. 80. I had been misled by those writers-up of this country.

1904.  Times, 1 June, 14/3. He carried on business as a writer-up of advertisements.

  4.  ellipt. The writings of an author.

1605.  Camden, Rem., 2. Let therefore these few lines … suffice, out of an antient Writer.

1676.  Ray, Corr. (1848), 122. [This] history makes me suspect he transcribed what he hath out of some writer.

1768–74.  Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 465. In some of the classic writers it is said [etc.].

1820.  Hazlitt, Lect. Dram. Lit., 11. A whole host of able writers … are suffered to moulder in obscurity on the shelves of our libraries.

1859.  Helps, Friends in C., Ser. II. II. 96. I saw the other day in an American writer a humorous account.

  5.  Writer’s sand (see quot. and SAND sb.² 8).

1899.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VII. 479. Such granulations vary in size from the finest ‘writer’s sand’ (‘tuberculous dust’) to [etc.].

  6.  One who typewrites; a typist.

1883.  J. G. Petrie, Man. for Type-Writer, 15. Unless the printers are accustomed to the writer’s style of shortening words.

  II.  7. A make of paint-brush.

1884.  R. Leslie, in Ruskin, Dilecta (1900), 6. Turner … used short brushes, some of them like the writers used by house decorators.

1889.  Sutherland, Sign Writing, iv. 4/4. A few sable and camels-hair pencils…. There are what are called ‘writers.’

  8.  A pen, etc., that writes in a specified manner.

1907.  Westm. Gaz., 10 Dec., 12/2. These pens … are certainly excellent writers.

  III.  9. attrib. (chiefly appositive), as writer body, chiel, -lad; writer-type, word.

1686.  Sir J. Lauder, Decis. (1759), I. 401. Some Writer lads were also accessory.

1717.  Ramsay, Elegy on Lucky Wood, ix. The writer lads fu’ well may mind her.

1785.  Burns, To W. Simpson, iii. Ferguson, the writer-chiel.

1818.  Scott, Rob Roy, xviii. I have just arrested her jurisdictiones fandandy causey. Thae are bonny writer words.

1869.  A. Macdonald, Clerical Intrigue, 108. A miserable writer body frae Glasgow.

1891.  Kipling, Light that Failed (1900), 169. That’s the writer-type. He has the same modelling of the forehead as Torp.

  Hence Writeress, a female writer or author; an authoress; Writerling, a petty writer; a sorry or indifferent author.

1822.  Blackw. Mag., XII. 656. Our rhyming *writeresses are frequently single gentlewomen.

1855.  Thackeray, Char. Sk., Wks. 1898, III. 517. Remember it henceforth, ye writeresses—there is no such word as authoress.

1802.  W. Taylor, in Robberds, Mem. (1843), I. 420. Every writer and *writerling of name has a salary from the government.