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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Scriptur(e, Scripto(u)r, n. Also: scriptuir, scripteur, schriptour, (skyptor). [ME and e.m.E. scriptur(e (Cursor M.), scrypture (14th c.), scriptour (a1400-50), e.m.E. also skryptur (c1485) scryptor (1556), L. scrīptūra, f. scribere to write. Cf. OF escriture (Mod. F. écriture).]

1. The sacred writings of the Old and New Testaments, the Bible, Holy Writ. 1365–6 Liber Scon 137.]
[Et que in refectorio et capitulo legatur de sacra scriptura

sing. The (Haly) Scripture. Also, the Scriptuir of God, (Christ), His Scriptuir.(1) 1456 Hay I 12/34.
The haly scripture has four maneris of understanding 1490 Irland Mir. I 9/9.
As the haly scripture & auld storiis and cornikilis witnessis Ib. 15/10.
I purpos quhilis to introduce the haly scripture that my sawis have mare autorite 1513 Doug. x Prol. 161.
The scripture clepys the God, of goddis Lord c1520-c1535 Nisbet III 322/15.
The scripture lukis singularie vnto the hart 1543 Treas. Acc. VIII 179.
Lettres tuecheing the having of the scripture in Inglis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 527.
Tak cure To luke on the diuyne scripture, In to the buke of Genesis [etc.] 1558 Treas. Acc. X 370.
Thai sal compeir befoir the justice … for thair wrangus using and wristing of the scripture a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 112/27.
Quhilk of the twa interpretaciones is maist propir and aggreabil with the plaine text of the scripture 1562-3 Winȝet II 73/7.
Be auctoritie of the diuine canoun of the scriptuir 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 198.
The said Johan … mantenit his contempt of the said ordor … and at the sam wes nocht grundit upon the scriptur 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 47/10.
Ye man nather laye the safetie of youre conscience upon the credit of youre awin conceatis, nor [etc.] … bot ye man onlie grounde it upon the expresse scripture(b) 1535 Stewart 15669.
Rycht nobill men had lang bene at the lair, That knew rycht weill the scriptour to declair 1540 Acts II 370/2.
That nane hald … congregationis … to commone or despute of the haly scriptour without thai be theologis 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 241.
Part of the legis has tayn new apoynȝionis of the scriptour 1549 Compl. 6/22.
Diuerse sectis, haldant straynge opinions contrar the scriptour 1558–9 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I lxiii.
And to gif reson of thair fayth … conforme to the scriptoura1570-86 Maitland? in Maitl. F. 443/87.
In the scriptour thow may leir [etc.](c) a1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvii 38.
Ministeris … That knawis the scripteur and the ten commandis(2) 1562-3 Winȝet I 73/29.
The scriptuir of God … to all manly inginis to be preferrit Ib. 91/17.
God distributis … in His scriptuir the samin names to his reularis a1578 Pitsc. I 349/2.
As the scriptour of Christ commandis

(Haly) Scripture.(a) 1456 Hay I 12/25.
Sa out of haly scripture departis all othir science c1515 Asl. MS I 327/28.
The hicht the depnes the lenth and the breid of haly scripture 1513 Doug. xi Prol. 10.
Prowes but ryce is provit lefull thyng By haly scriptur c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1231.
As holy scripture dois rehers 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 149/27.
Provin be the plane testimonie of scripture 1562-3 Winȝet I 8/22.
Vtheris … reioyses to be callit gospellaris and cunning in scripture Ib. I 17/16.
Power geuin … be His worde and expresse scripture 1567 G. Ball. 63.
Far better … Not till haif hard thy precept in scripture, Than knawand it, [etc.] Ib. 212.
Without authoritie … Of scripture 1581 Sat. P. xliv 214.
He hes the lauis and scripture baith for neid ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. I 99.
Thes ruling elders … are not to be founde in scripture … except yow tacke the worde elder in scripture to signifie lay elders 1655 Peebles B. Rec. II 31.
He shall conveane the saids maill bairnes … and teach them their Sundayes lessones of scripture and catechising(b) 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 148b.
Sindrie placis of scriptour, quhair mennis varkis and iustice is disallouit(c) 1616–17 Misc. Hist. Soc. X 92.
Att the beginning of morning prayer the minister or reder sal read distinctly one of these sentenceis of scriptor

pl. (The) (Haly) Scripturis. Also, the Scriptouris of God, His Holy Scriptureis.(1) 1560 Conf. Faith in Acts II 531/2.
Within the body of the scripturis 1562-3 Winȝet I 65/1.
Declarand sumtymes incidentlie the scriptuiris [MS scriptouris] and ordour in the materis of controuersie now being in religioun [etc.] Ib. II 18/19.
Sen the canoun of the Scriptuiris is perfyte, … quhat neid [etc.] 1570 Leslie 7.
Nocht haiffing the commodite … to exerce my time in the divine study of the scriptures … for lake of buikes c1590 Fowler II 37/17.
The places impertinently broght furth of the scriptures and confusly out of the doctours for probatioun 1602 Colville Paraenese 18.
The scripturs … schyne vith inspekable maiestie c1650 Spalding II 227.
Reiding of holie scriptures and singing of psalmes at lykualkis dischargeit be act of the toune's counsall of Abirdene(b) a1568 Scott i 171.
Caus everye stait to thair vocatioun go, Scolastik men the scriptouris to descrywe, [etc.](c) 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 489.
The pure fontanis of the schriptouris(2) c1560 Sc. Hist. Review XXI 142.
That na prayeris be usit … but … according to the scriptouris of God 1560 Conf. Faith in Acts II 527/1.
We … do promeis vnto him satisfactioun fra the mowthe of God (that is fra his holy scriptureis)

b. A particular passage of the Bible, chiefly as used to support an argument or justify a belief. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2838.
Thairfoir I find this scripture [Bann. in scriptour] in all place Thow suld not iuge ane man efter his face c1515 Asl. MS I 314/27.
Ihesus fulfillit … all prophesiis and misty scriptouris c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2399.
By quhat reasone, law … Or quhat attentyck scripture can ȝe fynd Leifsum for tyll commyt idolatrie? a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 114/3, 6.
The scripturis allegit be the kirk ar mekil mair plaine … to preif [etc.] … nor ar the scripturis allegit be Ecolampadius to preif the contrar Ib. 120/27.
The anciaunt fatheres apply thir scriptouris as ve haue done Ib. 126/11.
Thair is na scriptour playne and propyre for the confirmacione of thair vickit opinione 1562-3 Winȝet I 81/5.
For scriptuir haif ȝe nane, nor ȝit as we ar informit, aunciant fatheris, nor general counselis; nor ȝit … vniforme consent of ȝour awin writtaris Ib. 105/8.
Thai speik, and that be euident scriptuiris of [etc.] Ib. 117/16.
Quhat scriptuir hef ȝe for [etc.] 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 376.
He must use scriptures, he must confer place with place, and that thing quhilk he findeth obscurely spoken in ane place he will find it more clearly spoken in another; so many scriptures are necessary and he that would interpret truly he must have many scriptures in his memory

c. ? The Bible as analysed or commented upon by particular theologians. a1508 Want of Wyse Men 18 (Bann.).
Aristotill for all his grit moralite Augustyne or Ambros for all thair devyne scripture [Ch. & M. for dyvine scripture]

d. A Biblical text painted on to a church wall for purposes of instruction or decoration. 1591 Aberd. Kirk S. in Hay Post-Ref. Ch. Archit. 219.
For the paintin of two tabillis with skyptor thairon

e. Biblical material used as a part of another literary work. 1568 Charteris Lyndesay Pref. Adhort. 73.
With scripture and with storyis naturall, Richelie replenischit from end to end, In till this buke

2. A piece of writing, a written record, a literary composition. Also, pl. Writings.The first quot. may belong in 1 above. c1420 Wynt. iv 6 (W).
That in to Grece than wes thare dait In all the scriptouris [R. chartrys] at thai wrait c1460 Consail Vys Man 427.
Reid oft and here worthi scriptouris And folow teichinge of doctouris c1515 Asl. MS I 309/9.
Ȝe sall fynd in croniklis and scripturis that euer the floure of chevalry restit most in Europe Ib. 316/16.
In Moyses dayis … was letteris and scriptour fundin 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 789.
Ane heuinlie rout … Of quhome the bountie … Vneith may be intill ane scripture brewit a1538 Abell 33a.
Paip Siluester … honorit the kirk with scripture & myraculis c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 298.
In chronik & scriptour Ib. iii 653.
Allegeand baith the ald and new testamentis, historyis, scriptouris, & vtheris lang legentis 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 70.
Scriptouris, autentike cronikis … and alswa oure infeodationis and fundations of kirkis 1567 G. Ball. 135.
I haif spokin in my scripture I will the deide of na creature a1568 Bann. MS 218b/6.
Beseikand ȝow … Ȝe wald disdane to vesy this scripture

3. Writing, written characters. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 182.
In fine scriptour, I saw it writtin new [V]pon his breist his name hecht Disperance

4. An inscription. a1561 Norvell Meroure 16b.
Aboue this rob their was an brawe brodoure, In golding lettres, conteining this scripture Lord of lordes, king of kings … This is his name