The hand that scratched a mark became writing

Where the picture shows up in scrib/script

1. 1

   tracing an outline in words

   Can you describe the man you saw?

   kən juː dɪˈskraɪb ðə mæn juː sɔː

   Can you tell me what the man looked like?

   The face you saw is traced, line by line, in words.

   de (down along) + scrib (scratch) — you trace the outline of a thing in words.

2. 2

   written out in advance

   The doctor wrote me a prescription.

   ðə ˈdɑːktər roʊt miː ə prɪˈskrɪpʃən

   The doctor wrote out my medicine.

   A slip of paper with the medicine already written out on it, handed to you.

3. 3

   your name written underneath

   I subscribe to that channel.

   aɪ səbˈskraɪb tuː ðæt ˈtʃænəl

   I follow that channel.

   Your name written into the empty line at the bottom of a long list.

   sub (under) + scrib (write) — signing your name at the bottom of a list is subscribing.

4. 4

   the written-out lines

   The script for the ad is ready.

   ðə skrɪpt fɔːr ðiː æd ɪz ˈredi

   The wording for the ad is finished.

   A page where every word anyone will say is already set down.

5. 5

   written across from one form to another

   Please transcribe the recording by tomorrow.

   pliːz trænˈskraɪb ðə rɪˈkɔːrdɪŋ baɪ təˈmɑːroʊ

   Please type up the recording by tomorrow.

   What the ear hears is dragged straight across onto the page.