n. 1. The act or an instance of inscribing. 2. A marking, such as the wording on a coin, medal, monument, or seal, that is inscribed. 3. A piece of material, such as a stone or metal tablet, that is inscribed. 4. An enrollment or a registration of names. 5. a. A short, signed message in a book or on a photograph given as a gift. b. The usually informal dedication of a book or an artistic work. [Middle English inscripcioun, statement giving the author or title of a book, from Latin īnscrīptiō, īnscrīptiōn-, from īnscrīptus, past participle of īnscrībere, to inscribe; see INSCRIBE.] in·scription·al, in·scriptive adj. in·scriptive·ly adv. |
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