Scriptures
'skrɪptʃərz
Definitions
The sacred writings of a religion.
'skrɪptʃərz
Sacred writings
The priest read from the scriptures during the sermon.
💡 Simply: Imagine a super important book that tells you the rules and stories of a religion. The scriptures are those holy books, like the Bible or the Quran. They’re full of wisdom!
👶 For kids: Important books that tell stories about God or other holy things.
More Examples
Different religions have their own sets of scriptures.
Scholars study the scriptures to understand religious beliefs.
How It's Used
"The Bible, the Quran, and the Torah are examples of religious scriptures."
"The author draws heavily from the scriptures to inform the narrative."
From Middle English *scripture*, from Latin *scriptūra* (“a writing, a thing written”), from *scrīptus*, perfect passive participle of *scrībere* (“to write”).
The word 'scriptures' has been used since the 13th century, initially referring to any written documents, but soon taking on the specific meaning of religious texts.
Memory tip
Think of a 'script' that guides religious practice. The 'scriptures' are those guiding texts.