Scrivenings is a term derived from the word "scribe" and refers to a collection or compilation of writings or documents. It can denote a variety of literary or written materials that have been grouped together for convenience, typically related to a common theme or produced by the same author. This term can encompass a range of formats, encompassing handwritten or typewritten pages, documents, manuscripts, or even digital files.
Historically, scrivenings referred to the work of highly skilled scribes who meticulously copied documents, books, or manuscripts by hand. These scrivenings were often essential for preserving knowledge, disseminating information, or maintaining legal records. The skill required to produce such scrivenings was highly regarded, and they were usually associated with important religious, cultural, or legal texts.
In modern usage, scrivenings may refer to a compilation of various written works by a particular author, serving as a comprehensive collection of their writings. It may involve unpublished manuscripts, notes, drafts, or discarded ideas, providing a unique insight into the author's creative process or intellectual development. Scrivenings can be a valuable resource for researchers, scholars, or admirers of an author's work, shedding light on their thoughts, inspirations, and revisions.
Overall, scrivenings denote a textual compilation, whether produced through meticulous handwriting, printed pages, or digital files, capturing the essence of diverse writings from a single author or around a common theme.
