From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
writing
n 1: the act of creating written works; "writing was a form of
therapy for him"; "it was a matter of disputed authorship"
[syn: writing, authorship, composition, penning]
2: the work of a writer; anything expressed in letters of the
alphabet (especially when considered from the point of view
of style and effect); "the writing in her novels is
excellent"; "that editorial was a fine piece of writing"
[syn: writing, written material, piece of writing]
3: (usually plural) the collected work of an author; "the idea
occurs with increasing frequency in Hemingway's writings"
4: letters or symbols that are written or imprinted on a surface
to represent the sounds or words of a language; "he turned
the paper over so the writing wouldn't show"; "the doctor's
writing was illegible"
5: the activity of putting something in written form; "she did
the thinking while he did the writing" [syn: writing,
committal to writing]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Write \Write\, v. t. [imp. Wrote; p. p. Written; Archaic
imp. & p. p. Writ; p. pr. & vb. n. Writing.] [OE. writen,
AS. wr[imac]tan; originally, to scratch, to score; akin to
OS. wr[imac]tan to write, to tear, to wound, D. rijten to
tear, to rend, G. reissen, OHG. r[imac]zan, Icel. r[imac]ta
to write, Goth. writs a stroke, dash, letter. Cf. Race
tribe, lineage.]
[1913 Webster]
1. To set down, as legible characters; to form the conveyance
of meaning; to inscribe on any material by a suitable
instrument; as, to write the characters called letters; to
write figures.
[1913 Webster]
2. To set down for reading; to express in legible or
intelligible characters; to inscribe; as, to write a deed;
to write a bill of divorcement; hence, specifically, to
set down in an epistle; to communicate by letter.
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Last night she enjoined me to write some lines to
one she loves. --Shak.
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I chose to write the thing I durst not speak
To her I loved. --Prior.
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3. Hence, to compose or produce, as an author.
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I purpose to write the history of England from the
accession of King James the Second down to a time
within the memory of men still living. --Macaulay.
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4. To impress durably; to imprint; to engrave; as, truth
written on the heart.
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5. To make known by writing; to record; to prove by one's own
written testimony; -- often used reflexively.
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He who writes himself by his own inscription is like
an ill painter, who, by writing on a shapeless
picture which he hath drawn, is fain to tell
passengers what shape it is, which else no man could
imagine. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
To write to, to communicate by a written document to.
Written laws, laws deriving their force from express
legislative enactment, as contradistinguished from
unwritten, or common, law. See the Note under Law, and
Common law, under Common, a.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Writing \Writ"ing\, n.
1. The act or art of forming letters and characters on paper,
wood, stone, or other material, for the purpose of
recording the ideas which characters and words express, or
of communicating them to others by visible signs.
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2. Anything written or printed; anything expressed in
characters or letters; as:
(a) Any legal instrument, as a deed, a receipt, a bond, an
agreement, or the like.
(b) Any written composition; a pamphlet; a work; a
literary production; a book; as, the writings of
Addison.
(c) An inscription.
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And Pilate wrote a title . . . And the writing
was, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.
--John xix.
19.
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3. Handwriting; chirography.
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Writing book, a book for practice in penmanship.
Writing desk, a desk with a sloping top for writing upon;
also, a case containing writing materials, and used in a
similar manner.
Writing lark (Zool.), the European yellow-hammer; -- so
called from the curious irregular lines on its eggs.
[Prov. Eng.]
Writing machine. Same as Typewriter.
Writing master, one who teaches the art of penmanship.
Writing obligatory (Law), a bond.
Writing paper, paper intended for writing upon with ink,
usually finished with a smooth surface, and sized.
Writing school, a school for instruction in penmanship.
Writing table, a table fitted or used for writing upon.
[1913 Webster]