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

Other Word Forms

• inscriptional adjective
• inscriptionless adjective
• preinscription noun
• superinscription noun
• inscriptively adverb

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

Friends of the Jahn’s told the independent journalist Ken Klippenstein that they did not believe the inscription on the bullet could be sincere given what they know about him.

From Salon

His statue, with the inscription “Mr. Padre,” looms beyond right field at Petco Park.

From Los Angeles Times

Cox told reporters that inscriptions had been found engraved on casings recovered with the rifle, which had a scope mounted on top of it.

From BBC

Investigators say Mr Robinson was steeped in online culture, pointing to inscriptions on shell casings linked to the case.

From BBC

Cox told reporters that investigators had found inscriptions engraved on casings recovered with the rifle, which had a scope mounted on top of it.

From BBC

Related Words

• caption 
• engraving 
• epitaph 
• lettering 
• signature