Scripture is a sacred or authoritative text, especially within a religious tradition, regarded as containing divinely inspired writing or established doctrine. It can also refer to sacred writings collectively or to one specific text regarded as authoritative. In practice, the term often carries formal, reverent connotations and is used in religious, academic, and historical contexts.
"The minister opened the service by reading Scripture."
"Scholars debated the interpretation of Scripture passages."
"The term is sometimes used to discuss different scriptures across faiths."
"Her research focused on how Scripture influenced early Christian communities."
Scripture derives from the Latin scriptūra, meaning 'writing' or 'a writing down.' The root is script-, from scribĕre 'to write,' related to Sanskrit likh, Greek graphō. In religious and classical contexts, scriptūra came to denote authoritative writings, particularly sacred scriptures. Early English usage adopted Scripture to refer to holy writings in the Bible and other sacred texts; over centuries, it acquired connotations of canonical status and doctrinal authority. By the 13th century, Scripture appeared in Middle English texts to denote sacred literature considered divinely inspired. The concept spread in theologian discourse during the Reformation, when debates about scriptural authority shaped religious movements. In contemporary usage, Scripture often implies a body of sacred texts trusted as rule or guide, rather than any secular writing. The word’s semantic evolution reflects its movement from general ‘writing’ to specialized, revered content within religious communities worldwide.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Scripture" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Scripture"
-ure sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Scripture is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈskrɪp.tʃər/ in General American. The primary stress falls on the first syllable. Begin with a crisp 'skr' blend, then a short 'i' as in 'kit,' followed by a 'p' sound, and finish with a schwa-like 'tʃər' (the 'tʃ' as in 'church' plus a final 'ər' sound). Listen for the subtle reduction in the second syllable. Audio example: use Cambridge/Oxford audio references for precise pronunciation.
Common mistakes: 1) Dropping the final 'r' sound in non-rhotic accents or pronouncing it as a hard 'ruh' instead of a schwa+rhotic ending; 2) Misplacing the primary stress on 'Script' rather than the entire first syllable; 3) Flattening the /ɪ/ to a lax vowel or mispronouncing the /skr/ cluster as separate sounds. Correction: keep the 'skr' blend intact, ensure the first syllable carries strong stress, and end with a clear schwa followed by the rhotic 'r' or silent depending on dialect. Practice with minimal pairs like 'script' vs 'scripture'.
In General American, /ˈskrɪp.tʃər/ with a rhotic ending. In many UK accents, you may hear /ˈskrɪp.tjə/ or /ˈskɪp.tʃə(ə)/, with a shorter or non-rhotic final vowel and a more centralized vowel in the second syllable; Australians often sound like /ˈskrɪp.tʃə/ with a non-rhotic or weak rhotic ending and a clearer 'tj' onset. Across accents, the crucial differences are the rhoticity of the final syllable, the exact vowel quality in the first syllable, and the treatment of the /tʃ/ cluster.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster 'skr' at the start, the short vowel in the first syllable, and the final 'tʃər' or 'tjə' sequence, which can be reduced or altered in connected speech. Lips and tongue must manage a tight 'skr' onset, then quickly glide into 'ɪ' and a precise 'p' plus a light 'tʃ' release. In some dialects, the final syllable loses or alters the 'r' sound, which can cause mispronunciations. Pay attention to the transition between syllables.
A distinctive feature for search relevance is the two-syllable stress pattern with a strong first syllable and a clear '/tʃər/' or '/tjə/' ending. Emphasize the 'skr' onset and the 'ɪ' vowel, then practice the precise 'p' release and the 'tʃ' sound that begins the second syllable. Including IPA variants (/ˈskrɪp.tʃər/, /ˈskrɪp.tjə/) in content helps capture searches across dialect preferences and improves findability for users asking about its pronunciation.
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