scripture

noun

scrip·​ture ˈskrip(t)-shər 

1

a(1)

capitalized : the books of the Bible

—often used in plural

(2)

often capitalized : a passage from the Bible

b

: a body of writings considered sacred or authoritative

2

: something written

the primitive man's awe for any scripture

—George Santayana

Synonyms

• Bible
• Book
• Good Book
• Holy Writ

Examples of scripture in a Sentence

someone who frequently quotes Scripture

Recent Examples on the Web

When the mind has no priors left: Cessation In the past year, meditation researchers have begun to corroborate long-standing claims from Buddhist scripture that if your meditation goes deep enough, the whole show of consciousness can be extinguished — temporarily, that is — altogether. —Oshan Jarow, Vox, 8 Jan. 2025

It is expected, for instance, that players will have to ask their dungeon master whether their characters recognize a glowing rune or can quote the ancient scriptures. —Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2024

So the excessive resort to violence of all kinds, plus misinterpretation of biblical scriptures are two of the generic causes. —Marianne Schnall, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024

Who Was Jesus’s Grandma? Livia Gershon December 22, 2022 Canonical scripture never mentions the parents of the Virgin Mary, but the body of St. Anne was vital to Christianity in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin scriptura, from Latin, act or product of writing, from scriptus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Kids Definition

scripture

noun

scrip·​ture ˈskrip-chər 

1

a

capitalized : the books of the Old and New Testaments or of either of them : bible

—often used in plural

b

often capitalized : a portion of writing from the Bible

2

: the sacred writings of a religion

Etymology

Middle English scripture, Scripture "the books of the Bible," from Latin scriptura (same meaning), from earlier scriptura "the act or product of writing," from scriptus, past participle of scribere "to write" — related to scribe