inscription

[ in-skrip-shuhn ]

noun

1. something inscribed.
2. a historical, religious, or other record cut, impressed, painted, or written on stone, brick, metal, or other hard surface.
3. a brief, usually informal dedication, as of a book or a work of art.
4. a note, as a dedication, that is written and signed by hand in a book.
5. the act of inscribing.
6. Pharmacology. the part of a prescription indicating the drugs and the amounts to be mixed.
7. British.
   1. an issue of securities or stocks.
   2. a block of shares in a stock, as bought or sold by one person.
8. Also called legend. Numismatics. the lettering in the field of a coin, medal, etc.

inscription

/ ɪnˈskrɪpʃən /

noun

1. something inscribed, esp words carved or engraved on a coin, tomb, etc
2. a signature or brief dedication in a book or on a work of art
3. the act of inscribing
4. philosophy linguistics an element of written language, esp a sentence Compare utterance 1

Derived Forms

• inˈscriptively, adverb
• inˈscriptional, adjective

Other Words From

• in·scription·al adjective
• in·scription·less adjective
• prein·scription noun
• super·in·scription noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inscription¹

1350–1400; Middle English inscripcio ( u ) n < Latin inscrīptiōn- (stem of inscrīptiō ), equivalent to inscrīpt ( us ) (past participle of inscrībere to inscribe ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of inscription¹

C14: from Latin inscriptiō a writing upon, from inscrībere to write upon, from in- ² + scrībere to write

Example Sentences

On top of that, an inscription on the necklace says it was specifically made for the Goddess of Taleju by King Pratap Malla.

From BBC

The inscription on her headstone had become so illegible that, prompted by a local campaign, masonry restorers were brought in to spruce it up.

From BBC

It has an inscription written in the Urdu language, but beneath it lies the name of a German-born Jewish woman - Gerda Philipsborn - followed by the epithet 'Aapajaan' or 'elder sister'.

From BBC

The Japanese Embassy in Berlin said in an emailed statement that the inscription on the Berlin statue — which includes the term “sexual slavery” — was “one-sided” and “inaccurate.”

From Los Angeles Times

He likes to watch children sit in the empty chair while their parents snap a photo and read them the inscription.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• caption
• engraving
• epitaph
• lettering
• signature