Crossword clues for scriptorium
scriptorium
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Scriptorium \Scrip*to"ri*um\, n.; pl. Scriptoria. [LL. See Scriptory.] In an abbey or monastery, the room set apart for writing or copying manuscripts; in general, a room devoted to writing.
Writing rooms, or scriptoria, where the chief works of
Latin literature . . . were copied and illuminated.
--J. R. Green.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"writing room," 1774, from Late Latin scriptorium "place for writing," noun use of neuter of Latin scriptorius "pertaining to writing," from Latin scriptus, past participle of scribere "to write" (see script (n.)).
Wiktionary
n. (context countable English) A room set aside for the copying, write, or illuminate of manuscripts and records, especially such a room in a monastery.
Wikipedia
Scriptorium, literally "a place for writing", is commonly used to refer to a room in medieval European monasteries devoted to the writing, copying and illuminating of manuscripts by monastic scribes. Written accounts, surviving buildings, and archaeological excavations all show, however, that contrary to popular belief such rooms rarely existed: most monastic writing was done in cubicle-like recesses in the cloister, or in the monks' own cells (Schwakhofer, Melinda. "Scriptorium." Inspiraculum. 30 July 2012.). References in modern scholarly writings to 'scriptoria' more usually refer to the collective written output of a monastery, rather than to a physical room.
A scriptorium was a necessary adjunct to a library; wherever there was a library it can ordinarily be assumed that there was a scriptorium. Scriptoria in the conventional sense of a room set aside for the purpose probably only existed for limited periods of time, when an institution or individual wanted a large number of texts copied to stock a library; once the library was stocked, there was no further need for a designated room. By the start of the 13th century secular copy-shops developed; professional scribes may have had special rooms set aside for writing, but in most cases they probably simply had a writing-desk next to a window in their own house. By the time movable type printing presses were invented in the 15th century, the concept of a scriptorium was obsolete.
Usage examples of "scriptorium".
Old Language and Latin, which none of the preceptores in the scriptorium or chartularium could claim to be, so those monks muttered and grumbled only a little at my having won preferment instead of one of them.
Also, it had been illuminated by our scriptorium limners with pictures illustrating various things mentioned in the lection.
I went there only infrequently, for it was inferior even to the scriptorium at St.
I refuse to deposit this work in the royal archives or in any scriptorium accessible to the public, I can put it where it will never by remotest chance assault the eyes of the unwary.
Dugal took himself off to the brewhouse, and I continued on to the scriptorium intent on taking up my work once more.
The dying wind whined as it circled the scriptorium, searching among the chinks in the timbers for entrance, but many hands over many years had pressed tufts of raw wool into the cracks, frustrating all but the most savage gales.
In the scriptorium no voice was ever lifted above a whisper, and then rarely, lest the sound disturb or distract.
We secured our work for the night and left the scriptorium, joining our brothers in the chapel.
Libir, and I returned to the scriptorium where we worked until supper when the two scribes, failing to discover any other jot to alter, pronounced the work completed at last.
I wrapped my sodden cloak around me and thought about the warm security of the scriptorium aglow in the ruddy blaze of a peat fire.
Lastly, I saw my own hand working over a leaf of close-copied vellum at my desk in the scriptorium, pen quivering in the candlelight.
Bouchot for whom, at the lower rate, I did but two more assignments I removed myself to the Benedictine scriptorium on the Petersberg.
The scriptorium on the Petersberg being run by monks, the other noise was that of prayers, which we said three times a day.
But what I learned in the scriptorium is that the scribe is a meddler.
Dozing beside the furnace, while the bellows-boy puffed it to full heat, I would daydream back to the scriptorium, and imagine myself carving a page on metal instead of quilling it on vellum, and from that page casting a copy in relief, from which in turn, by rubbing ink on paper.