writer's cramp

A common disease affecting those in the habit of constant writing, the muscles refusing to respond only when an attempt to write is made (also called scrivener's palsy)

write /rīt/

transitive verb (wrītˈing; wrōte, (archaic) writ /rit/; written /ritˈn/ (archaic) writ)

1. To form (letters, symbols, numbers, words, sentences) with a pen, pencil, etc on a surface, esp paper
2. To express in writing
3. To compose, be the composer or author of
4. To inscribe, carve or engrave (a surface)
5. To record, state or communicate in a letter, book, article, etc
6. To decree or foretell
7. To make out or fill in (a prescription, cheque, etc)
8. To transfer (data) to a memory or storage device (computing)
9. To display (a quality, condition, etc) all too clearly, as in guilt written all over her face
10. To communicate with by letter
11. To underwrite (an insurance policy)

intransitive verb

1. To perform or practise the art of writing
2. To be employed as a clerk
3. To compose articles, novels, etc
4. To work as an author
5. To compose or send a letter
6. To communicate with a person by letter

wrītˈable adjective

1. Capable of being expressed or described in writing
2. Suitable for writing with

wrītˈative adjective (rare)

Inclined, or characterized by an inclination, to write

wrītˈer noun

1. Someone who writes
2. A professional scribe or clerk
3. An ordinary legal practitioner in a Scottish country town
4. An author or his or her works
5. Someone who paints lettering for signs
6. A seller (of options) (stock exchange)

wrītˈeress noun (rare)

A female writer

wrītˈerly adjective

Having or showing an accomplished literary style

wrītˈership noun

The office of a writer

wrītˈing noun

1. The act or activity of recording, expressing or communicating by inscribing words, letters, etc
2. That which is written
3. (often in pl) a literary production or composition
4. (in pl; with cap) the Old Testament books known as the Hagiographa (qv under hagi-; religion)
5. Handwriting, penmanship
6. The state of being written

writtˈen adjective

Reduced to or expressed in writing, opp to oral

writeˈ-back noun

An amount restored to a company's accounts because the size of an earlier liability had been overestimated

write-down see write down below.

writeˈ-in adjective (N American)

Of or relating to a candidate not listed in the ballot paper, but whose name is written in by the voter

noun

Such a candidate or vote

writeˈ-off noun

1. A car so badly damaged that the cost of repair would exceed the car's value
2. A crashed aircraft (RAF sl)
3. A total loss
4. See also write off below

writeˈ-once adjective

Denoting a storage medium in which the data can only be entered once, and then not changed or erased

writer's block noun

A temporary lack of enthusiasm and imagination that may prevent a writer from working

writer's cramp see under cramp

Writer to the Signet noun

A member of the oldest society of solicitors in Scotland, still active as a professional body, orig supervising the use of the Signet or royal seal required to be stamped on all summonses initiating actions in the Court of Session

write-up see write up below.

writˈing-book noun

A book of paper for practising penmanship

writing case noun

A portable case containing materials for writing

writing desk noun

1. A desk with a sloping top for writing on
2. A portable writing case

writˈing-ink noun

Ink suited for writing with

writˈing-master noun

1. A master who teaches the art of penmanship
2. The yellow bunting

writing pad noun

A pad of writing paper

writing paper noun

Paper finished with a smooth surface, for writing on

writˈing-school noun (historical)

A school for penmanship

writing table noun

A table designed or used for writing on

written law noun

Statute law as distinguished from common law

nothing to write home about see under home

write away see write off below.

write down

1. To put down in written characters
2. To write in disparagement of
3. To write so as to be intelligible or attractive to people of lower intelligence or inferior taste
4. To reduce the book value of an asset (writeˈ-down noun)

write in

1. To write a letter to an organization, etc
2. (with for) to apply for or request in such a letter, send away for
3. To insert (extra matter) in writing into a document, etc
4. To add (the name of an extra candidate) to a ballot paper (US; writeˈ-in adjective and noun)

write off

1. To cancel, esp in bookkeeping, to take (eg a bad debt) off the books
2. To regard or accept as an irredeemable loss
3. To destroy or damage irredeemably (a car, etc) (writeˈ-off noun)
4. (reflexive) to get (oneself) killed (RAF sl)
5. (also write away; with for) to apply for or request in a letter to an organization, etc
6. To compose (eg a letter) with fluent ease

write out

1. To transcribe
2. To write in full
3. (reflexive) to exhaust one's mental resources by too much writing
4. To remove (a character or scene) from the script of a film, broadcast, etc

write protect (computing)

Protecting of data on disk from alteration or erasure, eg by software command or a mechanical device on the disk (write-protectˈ adjective and transitive verb)

write to (computing)

To record (data) onto (a magnetic disk)

write up

1. To put a full description of in writing
2. To write a report or review of
3. To write in praise of, esp to praise above its merits
4. To bring the writing of (one's diary, etc) up to date
5. To increase the book value of an asset (writeˈ-up noun)

writing (also, esp US, handwriting) on the wall

A happening or sign foreshowing downfall and disaster (Bible, Daniel 5.5 ff)

written off

1. (of a car) damaged beyond reasonable repair
2. Completely ruined
3. (of a person) killed (RAF sl)
4. (of an aircraft) wrecked (RAF sl)
5. See also write off above