scriptlessadj.
/ˈskrɪptlᵻs/, U.S. /ˈskrɪp(t)ləs/ 1. Not having a system of writing; (esp. of a spoken language or dialect) not having a corresponding written form.figurative and poetic in earliest use.
ΚΠ
1860 Emerson Bennett's Dollar Monthly May 231/2 To paint the glowing language of the heart, And weave the scriptless language each may pore when far apart.
1902 Sci. Amer. Suppl. 15 Feb. 21839/1 The developmental lines traced backward..[to] the prehistoric, or at least the scriptless, past.
1905 Sci. 21 771/2 The scriptless nomads..set their journeys by the stars.
1956 G. S. Bhargava in Eastern World Mar. 10/2 To their Konkani, a scriptless dialect of Marathi, they [sc. the Goans] have given Roman script.
2000 Economist 29 Jan. 124/3 He explains how..alphabetic script has emerged as the only one used to write previously scriptless languages.
2. Of a film, television or radio programme, speech, etc., not based on a script; improvised, extempore, unscripted. Also of an actor, speaker, etc.: not having or using a script.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > broadcasting > a broadcast programme or item > [adjective] > types of programme or item
play-by-play1908
re-run1909
ball-by-ball1914
simultaneous1923
scriptless1930
scripted1941
soap opera1942
write-in1953
soap-operatic1963
open line1966
chat show1969
talk-back1972
made-for-TV1973
soap-operatical1975
drama-doc1977
omnibus1987
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > a film > screenplay or script > [adjective] > scripted > not
scriptless1930
1930 San Mateo (Calif.) Times 29 Nov. 6/2 Raoul Walsh is the chief exponent of scriptless pictures.
1955 R. D. T. Hollister Speaking before Audience xvi. 333 The biggest problem, beside having something worth saying, is to make the reading sound scriptless.
1989 Independent (Nexis) 27 Oct. Guests arrived on stage long after their cues..while Fleetwood and Fox gibbered, scriptless, through the technical hitches.
2004 Irish Times 29 Sept. 14/6 The energy of this very physical, almost scriptless show is clear the moment the four performers..tumble onto the stage.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1860