scrivener means A surname. It carries an Arena rating of 1500, earned across 2 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, scrivener ranks #143 of 25,264 for Qualifying, #2,319 of 14,444 for Most Exacting Words, #2,340 of 14,361 for Most Ingenious Words, #2,374 of 14,451 for Most Whimsical Words.
scrivener is pronounced /ˈskɹɪvnə(ɹ)/.
Why “scrivener” is a great word
A professional copyist, scribe, or clerk, especially one who drafts legal documents such as contracts and deeds. From Middle English scryvener, an alteration of scryveyn, from Anglo-Norman scrivein ("professional penman, copyist"), from Old French escrivain, from Vulgar Latin *scriba, *scribanem, from Latin scriba ("scribe, clerk"), from scrībō ("to write"). Unlike amanuensis, which implies a subordinate taking dictation, or scribe, a broader term often tied to religious or ancient texts, scrivener denotes an independent professional of the early modern world, a minor architect of the secular. It is the scratch of a quill in a paper-cluttered booth, the smell of iron gall ink drying on parchment, and the weight of a hand steadying the boundaries of property and promise—a ghost in the machinery of commerce, making permanent the temporary arrangements of strangers.
Etymology
From Middle English scryvener, alteration of scryveyn, from Anglo-Norman scrivein (“professional penman, copyist”), from Old French escrivain, from Vulgar Latin *scriba, *scribanem, from Latin scriba, from scrībō (“to write”).
noun
- A professional writer; one whose occupation is to draw contracts or prepare writings.“Scrivener (enters with a paper in hand):Here is the indictment of the good Lord Hastings,
Which in a set hand fairly is engrossed
That is may be today read o'er in Paul's.
And mark how well the sequel hangs together:
Eleven hours I have spent to write it over[…]”
- One whose business is to place money at interest; a broker.
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- scribe 91% match — Someone who writes; a draughtsperson; a writer for another; especially, an official or public writer; an amanuensis, secretary, notary, or copyist. vs scrivener →
- indenture 83% match — A contract which binds a person to work for another, under specified conditions, for a specified time (often as an apprentice). vs scrivener →
- wordsmith 82% match — One who uses words skilfully. vs scrivener →
- handwrit 82% match — manuscript; any nonprinted or handwritten text vs scrivener →
- manuscript 82% match — Handwritten, or by extension manually typewritten, as opposed to being mechanically reproduced. vs scrivener →
- ghostwriter 82% match — A professional writer who is paid to write material that is officially credited to another person; one who writes on behalf of someone else, often for a celebrity. vs scrivener →
- bookwright 81% match — A maker or writer of books; an author. vs scrivener →
- signature 81% match — A person's name, written by that person, used as identification or to signify approval of accompanying material, such as a legal contract. vs scrivener →