write

write
write (v.) O.E. writan "to score, outline, draw the figure of," later "to set down in writing" (class I strong verb; past tense wrat, pp. writen), from P.Gmc. *writanan "tear, scratch" (Cf. O.Fris. writa "to write," O.S. writan "to tear, scratch, write," O.N. rita "write, scratch, outline," O.H.G. rizan "to write, scratch, tear," Ger. reißen "to tear, pull, tug, sketch, draw, design"), outside connections doubtful. Words for "write" in most I.E languages originally mean "carve, scratch, cut" (Cf. L. scribere, Gk. grapho, Skt. rikh-); a few originally meant "paint" (Cf. Goth. meljan, O.C.S. pisati, and most of the modern Slavic cognates).
For men use to write an evill turne in marble stone, but a good turne in the dust. [More, 1513]
To write (something) off (1680s) originally was from accounting; figurative sense is recorded from 1889. Write-in "unlisted candidate" is recorded from 1932.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • write — W1S1 [raıt] v past tense wrote [rəut US rout] past participle written [ˈrıtn] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(book/article/poem etc)¦ 2¦(letter)¦ 3¦(form words)¦ 4¦(state something)¦ 5¦(music/song)¦ 6¦(computer program)¦ 7¦(a computer records something)¦ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • write — [ raıt ] (past tense wrote [ rout ] ; past participle writ|ten [ rıtn ] ) verb *** ▸ 1 create story/letter etc. ▸ 2 make words etc. with pen ▸ 3 create formal document ▸ 4 in computing ▸ 5 spell a word ▸ 6 when pen works ▸ + PHRASES 1. )… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • write — (rīt) v. wrote (rōt), writ·ten (rĭt’n) also writ (rĭt), writ·ing, writes v. tr. 1. a) To form (letters, words, or symbols) on a surface such as paper with an instrument such as a pen. b) …   Word Histories

  • write — [rīt] vt. wrote, written, writing [ME writen < OE writan, to scratch, engrave, write, akin to Ger reissen, to tear < IE base * wer , to tear off, scratch > Gr rhinē, a rasp] 1. a) to form or inscribe (words, letters, symbols, etc.) on a… …   English World dictionary

  • Write — Эта статья об утилите Unix; о текстовом редакторе компании Microsoft, см.: Windows Write write unix утилита, позволяющая отправить сообщение другому пользователю, который имеет сессию в этой же системе. В отличие от утилиты talk, переписка… …   Википедия

  • Write — Write, v. t. [imp. {Wrote}; p. p. {Written}; Archaic imp. & p. p. {Writ}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Writing}.] [OE. writen, AS. wr[=i]tan; originally, to scratch, to score; akin to OS. wr[=i]tan to write, to tear, to wound, D. rijten to tear, to rend, G.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • write-up — ˈwrite up noun 1. [countable, uncountable] ACCOUNTING when the value of an asset is increased: • The company had expected a total asset write up of about A$1 billion. 2. [countable] a written opinion about a new product, book etc: • Their PC had… …   Financial and business terms

  • write-in — write ins N COUNT: also N n In the US, a write in is a vote that you make by writing the candidate s name on the ballot paper. When Republican write ins were included, Johnson s margin of victory was only 230 votes... The state does not permit… …   English dictionary

  • Write — Write, v. i. 1. To form characters, letters, or figures, as representative of sounds or ideas; to express words and sentences by written signs. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] So it stead you, I will write, Please you command. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • write up — vt: to increase the book value of (an asset) write–up / rīt ˌəp/ n Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. write up …   Law dictionary

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