manuscript

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A written or typed version of a book or article before it is published.

   She sent her manuscript to several publishers last month.

2. 2
   noun

   An old document or book written by hand.

   The library keeps a medieval manuscript in a glass case.

From Medieval Latin manūscrīptum (“writing by hand”), a calque of Germanic origin: compare Middle Low German hantschrift (“manuscript, document”), Middle Dutch hantscrift (“manuscript”) (c. 1451), Old High German hantgiskrīb (“handwriting, document, manuscript”), Middle High German hantschrift, hantgeschrift (“manuscript”) (c. 1450), Old English handġewrit (“what is written by hand, deed, contract, manuscript”) (before 1150), Old Norse handrit (“manuscript”) (before 1300). Not found in Classical Latin.

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