written

1.0

Made as words on paper or a screen rather than spoken

adjective
/ˈrɪtən/

: escrito

All the instructions need to be written down to avoid confusion.

I said it's a cashier's check written from your bank.

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Examples

That theme song was written by the same Chuck Lorre.
It's a genius movie written by Stephen Sondheim.
So I have all the questions written on my phone.
Obviously it's based on a novel written by your uncle.
A critical point was a book written by Louis Brandeis.
It's called A First Course in Abstract Algebra written by John B Frilly.
I want to read Pride and Prejudice, written by Emma Wong.
The Written Torah is the part commonly known as the Bible—the Five Books of Moses, prophets, psalms, etc.

Academic text (1992)
The report must be written in clear and simple language.
She has a written agreement confirming their arrangement.

Synonyms

in writing

vswritten

99 2.6

Someone writes it on paper or in a document instead of saying it

is the adjective form meaning the same idea not speech or improvisation

handwritten

vswritten

18 2.8

Made by using a pen instead of typing or printing

is the general term for text regardless of production method

typewritten

vswritten

Archaic

1 3.5

Written on a typewriter rather than by hand

is a broader label for text whatever the production tool

scripted

vswritten

3.7

Written in advance rather than made up while speaking or acting

is broader meaning any prepared or recorded text beyond performances

penciled

vswritten

1.3

Written or drawn with a tool that leaves grey marks on paper

is broader covering any recorded text not limited to pencil marks

Antonyms

unwritten

19 4.6

Not officially recorded but accepted and followed by people

spoken

1 1.0

Said aloud rather than written

Idioms

written all over it

Informal

17 5.8

Very easy to see because a feeling or quality shows on someone's face

written all over someone's face

Informal

5 4.0

A strong feeling you can clearly see on someone's face

to have someone's name written all over it

1 8.2

To show clearly that something is typical of a person or made by them

victory written all over someone's face

Informal

6.2

A face that clearly shows success and happiness

Compounds

written word

16 3.2

Words shown with letters on a page or screen instead of spoken

written record

5 3.4

A document that keeps proof of facts or events

written language

5 3.4

A way of showing words using letters or characters instead of speech

written report

4 2.9

A document that gives information or findings after someone studies a topic

written agreement

Formal

3 2.7

A document that writes down what two or more people agree to

written document

Formal

3 2.5

A formal paper that gives information or records facts

written material

Literature

3 2.3

Text created by a person, like a book or letter

written communication

2 3.4

To share information by writing, for example in letters or emails

written text

2 2.0

Words put on paper or saved in a file, not spoken

written account

1 3.2

A paper that describes events so people can read about them later

written matter

3.6

Text to be printed or published without pictures

written assignment

2.8

A piece of work where you write about a topic for school

written symbol

4.2

A written mark, like a letter, that stands for a sound or idea

How Official

statutory

Formal

68 6.8

codified

Formal

6.7

written

1.0

unwritten

19 4.6

accepted

1.3

customary

70 3.5

Surface Forms

written positive

Morphology

written = write (transparent) = write + en

The word 'written' is a standard past participle form of 'write', which is clear and follows regular English morphological rules.

Etymology

The word written comes from the old verb write, which comes from an Old English word writan meaning 'to scratch' because people long ago scratched letters into wood and stone. So written means 'recorded in writing', not spoken.